Look here; look at these boots," and I held up the shooting-shoes new
from Burlington Arcade. "They cost thirty shillings--thirty
shillings! and I will give them to you for the loan of this pair of
slippers."
"They'd be no use at all to me, yer honer; not the laist use in
life."
"You could do with them very well for to-night, and then you could
sell them. And here are ten shillings besides," and I held out half
a sovereign which the poor fellow took into his hand.
I waited no further parley but immediately walked out of the room.
With one foot I was sufficiently pleased. As regarded that I felt
that I had overcome my difficulty. But the other was not so
satisfactory. Whenever I attempted to lift it from the ground the
horrid slipper would fall off, or only just hang by the toe. As for
dancing, that would be out of the question.
"Och, murther, murther," sang out Larry, as he heard me going down
stairs. "What will I do at all? Tare and 'ounds; there, he's at it
agin, as mad as blazes." This last exclamation had reference to
another peal which was evidently the work of the master's hand.
I confess I was not quite comfortable as I walked down stairs. In
the first place I was nearly half an hour late, and I knew from the
vigour of the peals that had sounded that my slowness had already
been made the subject of strong remarks.
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