'You haven't got it, sir?' repeated Mr Willet, eyeing him from top to
toe. 'You haven't got it, sir? You HAVE got it, sir. Don't I tell you
that His blessed Majesty King George the Third would no more stand a
rioting and rollicking in his streets, than he'd stand being crowed over
by his own Parliament?'
'Yes, Johnny, but that's your sense--not your senses,' said the
adventurous Mr Parkes.
'How do you know? 'retorted John with great dignity. 'You're a
contradicting pretty free, you are, sir. How do YOU know which it is?
I'm not aware I ever told you, sir.'
Mr Parkes, finding himself in the position of having got into
metaphysics without exactly seeing his way out of them, stammered forth
an apology and retreated from the argument. There then ensued a silence
of some ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, at the expiration of which
period Mr Willet was observed to rumble and shake with laughter, and
presently remarked, in reference to his late adversary, 'that he hoped
he had tackled him enough.' Thereupon Messrs Cobb and Daisy laughed,
and nodded, and Parkes was looked upon as thoroughly and effectually put
down.
'Do you suppose if all this was true, that Mr Haredale would be
constantly away from home, as he is?' said John, after another silence.
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