Part 36 (1/2)
”What is it like, sir? haw! haw!”
”It is as you described it, _on_comfortable; but the knowledge I have gained in it is invaluable. You shall share it.”
”With all my heart, sir; you can tell me what it is like.”
”Oh, no! such knowledge can never be imparted by description; you shall take your turn in the jacket.”
”Not if I know it.”
”What, not for the sake of knowledge?”
”Oh! I can guess what it is like.”
”But you will oblige me?”
”Some other way, sir, if you please.”
”Besides, I will give you a guinea.”
”Oh! that alters the case, sir. But only for half an hour.”
”Only for half an hour.”
Evans was triced up and pinned to the wall; the chaplain took out a guinea and placed it in his sight, and walked out.
In about ten minutes he returned, and there was Evans, his face drawn down by pain.
”Well, how do you like it?”
”Oh! pretty well, sir; it isn't worth making an outcry about.”
”Only a little _on_comfortable.”
”That is all; if it wasn't for the confounded cramp.”
”Let us compare notes,” said the chaplain, sitting down opposite. ”I found it worse than uncomfortable. First there was a terrible sense of utter impotence, then came on racking cramps, for which there was no relief because I could not move.”
”Oh!”
”What?”
”Nothing, sir! mum--mum--dear guinea!”
”The jagged collar gave me much pain, too; it rasped my poor throat like a file.”
”Why the d.i.c.kens didn't you tell me all this before, sir,” said Evans ruefully; ”it is no use now I've been and gone into the same oven like a fool.”
”I had my reasons for not telling you before; good-by for the present.”
”Don't stay over the half hour, for goodness' sake, sir.”