the ragged trousered philanthropists-第50章

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ounter；　were　of　polished　mahogany；　with　silvered　plate　glass　at　the　back　of　the　shelves。　　On　the　shelves　were　rows　of　bottles　and　cut…glass　decanters；　gin；　whisky；　brandy　and　wines　and　liqueurs　of　different　kinds。

When　Crass；　Philpot；　Easton　and　Bundy　entered；　the　landlord；　a　well…fed；　prosperous…looking　individual　in　white　shirt…sleeves；　and　a　bright　maroon　fancy　waistcoat　with　a　massive　gold　watch…chain　and　a　diamond　ring；　was　conversing　in　an　affable；　friendly　way　with　one　of　his　regular　customers；　who　was　sitting　on　the　end　of　the　seat　close　to　the　counter；　a　shabbily　dressed；　bleary…eyed；　degraded；　beer…sodden；　trembling　wretch；　who　spent　the　greater　part　of　every　day；　and　all　his　money；　in　this　bar。　　He　was　a　miserable…looking　wreck　of　a　man　about　thirty　years　of　age；　supposed　to　be　a　carpenter；　although　he　never　worked　at　that　trade　now。　　It　was　commonly　said　that　some　years　previously　he　had　married　a　woman　considerably　his　senior；　the　landlady　of　a　third…rate　lodging…house。　　This　business　was　evidently　sufficiently　prosperous　to　enable　him　to　exist　without　working　and　to　maintain　himself　in　a　condition　of　perpetual　semi…intoxication。　　This　besotted　wretch　practically　lived　at　the　'Cricketers'。　　He　came　regularly　very　morning　and　sometimes　earned　a　pint　of　beer　by　assisting　the　barman　to　sweep　up　the　sawdust　or　clean　the　windows。　　He　usually　remained　in　the　bar　until　closing　time　every　night。　　He　was　a　very　good　customer；　not　only　did　he　spend　whatever　money　he　could　get　hold　of　himself；　but　he　was　the　cause　of　others　spending　money；　for　he　was　acquainted　with　most　of　the　other　regular　customers；　who；　knowing　his　impecunious　condition；　often　stood　him　a　drink　‘for　the　good　of　the　house'。

The　only　other　occupant　of　the　public　bar　…　previous　to　the　entrance　of　Crass　and　his　mates　…　was　a　semi…drunken　man；　who　appeared　to　be　a　house…painter；　sitting　on　the　form　near　the　shove…ha'penny　board。　　He　was　wearing　a　battered　bowler　hat　and　the　usual　shabby　clothes。　　This　individual　had　a　very　thin；　pale　face；　with　a　large；　high…bridged　nose；　and　bore　a　striking　resemblance　to　the　portraits　of　the　first　Duke　of　Wellington。　　He　was　not　a　regular　customer　here；　having　dropped　in　casually　about　two　o'clock　and　had　remained　ever　since。　　He　was　beginning　to　show　the　effects　of　the　drink　he　had　taken　during　that　time。

As　Crass　and　the　others　came　in　they　were　hailed　with　enthusiasm　by　the　landlord　and　the　Besotted　Wretch；　while　the　semi…drunk　workman　regarded　them　with　fishy　eyes　and　stupid　curiosity。

‘Wot　cheer；　Bob？'　said　the　landlord；　affably；　addressing　Crass；　and　nodding　familiarly　to　the　others。　　‘'Ow　goes　it？'

‘All　reet　me　ole　dear！'　replied　Crass；　jovially。　　‘'Ow's　yerself？'

‘A。1；'　replied　the　‘Old　Dear'；　getting　up　from　his　chair　in　readiness　to　execute　their　orders。

‘Well；　wot's　it　to　be？'　inquired　Philpot　of　the　others　generally。

‘Mine's　a　pint　o'　beer；'　said　Crass。

‘Half　for　me；'　said　Bundy。

‘Half　o'　beer　for　me　too；'　replied　Easton。

‘That's　one　pint；　two　'arves；　and　a　pint　o'　porter　for　meself；'　said　Philpot；　turning　and　addressing　the　Old　Dear。

While　the　landlord　was　serving　these　drinks　the　Besotted　Wretch　finished　his　beer　and　set　the　empty　glass　down　on　the　counter；　and　Philpot　observing　this；　said　to　him：

‘'Ave　one　along　o'　me？'

‘I　don't　mind　if　I　do；'　replied　the　other。

When　the　drinks　were　served；　Philpot；　instead　of　paying　for　them；　winked　significantly　at　the　landlord；　who　nodded　silently　and　unobtrusively　made　an　entry　in　an　account　book　that　was　lying　on　one　of　the　shelves。　　Although　it　was　only　Monday　and　he　had　been　at　work　all　the　previous　week；　Philpot　was　already　stony　broke。　　This　was　accounted　for　by　the　fact　that　on　Saturday　he　had　paid　his　landlady　something　on　account　of　the　arrears　of　board　and　lodging　money　that　had　accumulated　while　he　was　out　of　work；　and　he　had　also　paid　the　Old　Dear　four　shillings　for　drinks　obtained　on　tick　during　the　last　week。

‘Well；　'ere's　the　skin　orf　yer　nose；'　said　Crass；　nodding　to　Philpot；　and　taking　a　long　pull　at　the　pint　glass　which　the　latter　had　handed　to　him。

Similar　appropriate　and　friendly　sentiments　were　expressed　by　the　others　and　suitably　acknowledged　by　Philpot；　the　founder　of　the　feast。

The　Old　Dear　now　put　a　penny　in　the　slot　of　the　polyphone；　and　winding　it　up　started　it　playing。　It　was　some　unfamiliar　tune；　but　when　the　Semi…drunk　Painter　heard　it　he　rose　unsteadily　to　his　feet　and　began　shuffling　and　dancing　about；　singing：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'Oh；　we'll　inwite　you　to　the　wedding；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　An'　we'll　'ave　a　glorious　time！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Where　the　boys　an'　girls　is　a…dancing；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　An'　we'll　all　get　drunk　on　wine。'

‘'Ere！　that's　quite　enough　o'　that！'　cried　the　landlord；　roughly。　　‘We　don't　want　that　row　'ere。'

The　Semi…drunk　stopped；　and　looking　stupidly　at　the　Old　Dear；　sank　abashed　on　to　the　seat　again。

‘Well；　we　may　as　well　sit　as　stand　…　for　a　few　minutes；'　remarked　Crass；　suiting　the　action　to　the　word。　　The　others　followed　his　example。

At　frequent　intervals　the　bar　was　entered　by　fresh　customers；　most　of　them　working　men　on　their　way　home；　who　ordered　and　drank　their　pint　or　half…pint　of　ale　or　porter　and　left　at　once。　　Bundy　began　reading　the　advertisement　of　the　circus　and　menageries　and　a　conversation　ensued　concerning　the　wonderful　performances　of　the　trained　animals。　The　Old　Dear　said　that　some　of　them　had　as　much　sense　as　human　beings；　and　the　manner　with　which　he　made　this　statement　implied　that　he　thought　it　was　a　testimonial　to　the　sagacity　of　the　brutes。　　He　further　said　that　he　had　heard　…　a　little　earlier　in　the　evening　…　a　rumour　that　one　of　the　wild　animals；　a　bear　or　something；　had　broken　loose　and　was　at　present　at　large。　　This　was　what　he　had　heard　…　he　didn't　know　if　it　were　true　or　not。　　For　his　own　part　he　didn't　believe　it；　and　his　hearers　agreed　that　it　was　highly　improbable。　Nobody　ever　knew　how　these　silly　yarns　got　about。

Presently　the　Besotted　Wretch　got　up　and；　taking　the　india…rubber　rings　out　of　the　net　with　a　trembling　hand；　began　throwing　them　one　at　a　time　at　the　hooks　on　the。　board。　　The　rest　of　the　company　watched　him　with　much　interest；　laughing　when　he　made　a　very　bad　shot　and　applauding　when　he　scored。

‘'E's　a　bit　orf　tonight；'　remarked　Philpot　aside　to　Easton；　'but　as　a　rule　'e's　a　fair　knockout　at　it。　　Throws　a　splendid　ring。'

The　Semidrunk　regarded　the　proceedings　of　the　Besotted　Wretch　with　an　expression　of　profound　contempt。

‘You　can't　play　for　nuts；'　he　said　scornfully。

‘Can't　I？　　I　can　play　you；　anyway。'

‘Right　you　are！　　I'll　play　you　for　drinks　round！'　cried　the　Semi…drunk。

For　a　moment　the　Besotted　Wretch　hesitated。　　He　had　not　money　enough　to　pay　for　drinks　round。　　However；　feeling　confident　of　winning；　he　replied：

‘Come　on　then。　　What's　it　to　be？　　Fifty　up？'

‘Anything　you　like！　　Fifty　or　a　'undred　or　a　bloody　million！'

‘Better　make　it　fifty　for　a　start。'

‘All　right！'

‘You　play　first　if　you　like。'

‘All　right；'　agreed　the　Semi…drunk；　anxious　to　distinguish　himself。　Holding　the　six　rings　in　his　left　hand；　the　man　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　floor　at　a　distance　of　about　three　yards　from　the　board；　with　his　right　foot　advanced。　　Taking　one　of　the　rings　between　the　forefinger　and　thumb　of　his　right　hand；　and　closing　his　left　eye；　he　carefully　‘sighted'　the　centre　hook；　No。　13；　then　he　slowly　extended　his　arm　to　its　full　length　in　the　direction　of　the　board：　then　bending　his　elbow；　he　brought　his　hand　back　again　until　it　nearly　touched　his　chin；　and　slowly　extended　his　arm　again。　　He　repeated　these　movements　several　times；　whilst　the　others　watched　with　bated　breath。　　Getting　it　right　at　last　he　suddenly　shot　the　ring　at　the　board；　but　it　did　not　go　on　No。　13；　it　went　over　the　partition　into　the　private　bar。

This　feat　was　greeted　with　a　roar　of　laughter。　　The　player　stared　at　the　board　in　a　dazed　way；　wondering　what　had　become　of　the　ring。　　When　someone　in　the　next　bar　threw　it　over　the　partition　again；　he　realized　what　had　happened　and；　turning　to　the　company　with　a　sickly　smile；　remarked：

‘I　ain't　got　properly　used　to　this　board　yet：　that's　the　reason　of　it。'

He　now　began　throwing　t