You had
better hide it again, and lose no time. Don't let me see where you put
it either,' he added, turning away his head.
'You're not a receiver!' said Hugh bluntly, despite the increasing awe
in which he held him. 'What do you call THAT, master?' striking the
letter with his heavy hand.
'I call that quite another thing,' said Mr Chester coolly. 'I shall
prove it presently, as you will see. You are thirsty, I suppose?'
Hugh drew his sleeve across his lips, and gruffly answered yes.
'Step to that closet and bring me a bottle you will see there, and a
glass.'
He obeyed. His patron followed him with his eyes, and when his back was
turned, smiled as he had never done when he stood beside the mirror.
On his return he filled the glass, and bade him drink. That dram
despatched, he poured him out another, and another.
'How many can you bear?' he said, filling the glass again.
'As many as you like to give me. Pour on. Fill high. A bumper with a
bead in the middle! Give me enough of this,' he added, as he tossed it
down his hairy throat, 'and I'll do murder if you ask me!'
'As I don't mean to ask you, and you might possibly do it without
being invited if you went on much further,' said Mr Chester with great
composure, we will stop, if agreeable to you, my good friend, at the
next glass.
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