Part 36 (2/2)
”Ah, but I can!” nodded Joe. ”An' if ye give me any more lip, it'll be no sugar in ye tea--”
”No sugar!” wailed the Old Un, then clenching a trembling old fist, he shook it in Joe's scowling face. ”Then dang ye--three times!” he cried.
”What's the old song say?
”'Dang the man with three times three Who in 'is 'eathen rage Can 'arm a 'armless man like me Who's 'ead is bowed wi' age!'
”An' there's for ye. Now listen again:
”'Some men is this an' some is that, But 'ere's a truth I know: A fightin' cove who's run to fat Is bound t' puff an' blow!'
”An' there's for ye again!”
Saying which, the Old Un nodded ferociously and proceeded to light his fragmentary pipe. During this colloquy Ravenslee had laid by his shabby clothes and now appeared clad and shod for the ring.
”Sir,” said Joe, taking a set of gloves from a locker, ”if you are ready to box a round or so--”
”Why, no,” answered Ravenslee, ”I don't want to box to-day, Joe.”
”Eh?” said Joe, staring, ”not?”
”I want to fight, Joe.”
”To--fight, sir?” repeated Joe.
”Fight?” cried the Old Un rapturously. ”Oh, music--sweet music t' me old ears! Fight? Oh, j'yful words! What's the old song say?
””Appy is the first as goes To black a eye or punch a nose!'”
”Get the m.u.f.flers on, Joe; get 'em on an' don't stand staring like a fool!”
”But, sir,” said Joe, his mild eyes kindling, ”d' ye mean as you want--the real thing?”
”To-day,” said Ravenslee, ”instead of boxing a round or two with Joe Madden, my chauffeur and mechanic, I want to see how long I can stand up to Joe Madden, undefeated champion of the world.”
Joe's lean cheek flushed and he looked Ravenslee over with eyes of yearning; noted the thin flanks and slender legs that showed speed, the breadth of shoulder and long arms that spoke strength, and the deep, arched chest that showed endurance; Joe looked and sighed and shook his head.
”Sir,” said he, ”I honour and respect you to that degree as it would be a joy to fight such a man as you and a rare privilege t' knock you down--but, sir, if I was to knock ye down--”
”You'd earn a five-dollar bill.”
”Five dollars--for knockin' you down, sir?”
”Every time!” nodded Ravenslee.
”But Lord, sir--”
”Shut up, Joe, shut up,” snarled the Old Un, hopping out of the armchair. ”Don't gape like a peris.h.i.+n' fish; come on up-stairs an' knock the Guv'nor down like 'e tells ye--an' 'arves on the money, mind; it was me as taught ye all you know or ever will, so 'arves on the money, Joe, 'arves on the money. Come on, Joe--d'j 'ear?”
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