, been viewed with no
favourable eye by some of his comrades, his recent ill-luck at Warwick
could hardly be expected to escape the jests and sarcasms of his bottle
companions."

"'Fore God," said Optimus, "this backing of your man against the black
diamond has been but a bad spec. Out heavyish I suppose, ay, Joe?"

Count. Why, a stiffish bout, I must confess; and what's more, I'm not by
any means without my suspicions about the correctness of the thing.

Optimus. What, cross and jostle work again? a second edition of Virginia
Water? But I thought you felt assured that Cannon would not do wrong for
the wealth of Windsor Castle?

Count. True, I did feel so, and others confirmed me in my assurance,
but I believe I was wofully mistaken; and curse me if I don't think they
were all in the concern of doing me.

Optimus. Was not there a floating report about the bargeman receiving a
thousand to throw it over?

Count. Something of the sort; but 1 don't believe it. Two bills for
five hundred, but so drawn that they could not be negotiated. I shall
certainly, said the count, give notice to the stake-holders not to give
up the battle-money for the present.

Optimus. Pshaw! that will never do. A thing of that nature must be done
at the time. Besides, Cannon stood two hundred in his own money, and
says he will freely pay his losses.

Count. A pretty do that, when he had a cheque ~204~~of mine for the sum
he put down. But I've stopped payment of that at my banker's.

Optimus. And will as surely be obliged to revoke that order, as well as
to give up disputing the stakes. No, no, Joe; get out of the business
now as you can, and cut it. I always thought and told you, that I
thought your man had no chance. But his going to fight so out of
condition, in a contest where all his physical powers were necessary,
does look as if you had been put in for a piece of ready made luck. But
what could you expect? Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? That a
gentleman can patronize such fellows!

Count. I am still of opinion that the spirit of national courage is much
promoted--------

Optimus. Spirit of a fiddle-stick! Nonsense, man; that card will win
no trick now. You, like others might have thought so once; but you have
seen enough by this time to know that the system is on altogether a
different tack; that its stanchest upholders and admirers are bullies,
sharpers, pickpockets, pothouse keepers, coachmen, fradulent bankrupts,
the