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but amongst the Methodist preachers I should conceive that the
success would not be great。'
The man in black sat quite still。
'Especially amongst those who have wives；' I added。
The man in black stretched his hand towards his gin and water。
'However；' said I； 'we shall see what the grand movement will bring
about； and the results of the lessons in elocution。'
The man in black lifted the glass up to his mouth； and； in doing
so； let the spoon fall。
'But what has this to do with the main question？' said I； 'I am
waiting here to fight against the Pope。'
'Come； Hunter；' said the companion of the man in the snuff coloured
coat； 'get up； and fight for the Pope。'
'I don't care for the young fellow；' said the man in the snuff…
coloured coat。
'I know you don't；' said the other； 'so get up； and serve him out。'
'I could serve out three like him；' said the man in the snuff…
coloured coat。
'So much the better for you；' said the other； 'the present work
will be all the easier for you； get up； and serve him out at once。'
The man in the snuff…coloured coat did not stir。
'Who shows the white feather now？' said the simple…looking man。
'He！ he！ he！' tittered the man in black。
'Who told you to interfere？' said the Radical； turning ferociously
towards the simple…looking man； 'say another word and I'll … '
'And you！' said he； addressing himself to the man in black； 'a
pretty fellow you to turn against me； after I had taken your part。
I tell you what； you may fight for yourself。 I'll see you and your
Pope in the pit of Eldon before I fight for either of you； so make
the most of it。'
'Then you won't fight？' said I。
'Not for the Pope；' said the Radical； 'I'll see the Pope … '
'Dear me！' said I； 'not fight for the Pope； whose religion you
would turn to； if you were inclined for any。 I see how it is； you
are not fond of fighting； but I'll give you another chance … you
were abusing the Church of England just now： I'll fight for it …
will you fight against it？'
'Come； Hunter；' said the other； 'get up； and fight against the
Church of England。'
'I have no particular quarrel against the Church of England；' said
the man in the snuff…coloured coat； 'my quarrel is with the
aristocracy。 If I said anything against the Church； it was merely
for a bit of corollary； as Master William Cobbett would say； the
quarrel with the Church belongs to this fellow in black； so let him
carry it on。 However；' he continued suddenly； 'I won't slink from
the matter either； it shall never be said by the fine fellows on
the quay of New York that I wouldn't fight against the Church of
England。 So down with the beggarly aristocracy； the Church； and
the Pope to the bottom of the pit of Eldon； and may the Pope fall
first； and the others upon him。'
Thereupon； dashing his hat on the table； he placed himself in an
attitude of offence and rushed forward。 He was； as I have said
before； a powerful fellow； and might have proved a dangerous
antagonist； more especially to myself； who； after my recent
encounter with the Flaming Tinman； and my wrestlings with the evil
one； was in anything but fighting order。 Any collision； however；
was prevented by the landlord； who； suddenly appearing； thrust
himself between us。 'There shall be no fighting here；' said he；
'no one shall fight in this house； except it be with myself； so if
you two have anything to say to each other； you had better go into
the field behind the house。 But； you fool；' said he； pushing
Hunter violently on the breast； 'do you know whom you are going to
tackle with？ … this is the young chap that beat Blazing Bosville；
only as late as yesterday； in Mumpers' Dingle。 Grey Moll told me
all about it last night； when she came for some brandy for her
husband； who； she said； had been half killed； and she described the
young man to me so closely that I knew him at once； that is； as
soon as I saw how his left hand was bruised； for she told me he was
a left…hand hitter。 Aren't it all true； young man？ Aren't you he
that beat Flaming Bosville； in Mumpers' Dingle？' 'I never beat
Flaming Bosville；' said I； 'he beat himself。 Had he not struck his
hand against a tree； I shouldn't be here at the present moment。'
'Hear； hear！' said the landlord； 'now that's just as it should be；
I like a modest man； for； as the parson says； nothing sits better
upon a young man than modesty。 I remember； when I was young；
fighting with Tom of Hopton； the best man that ever pulled off coat
in England。 I remember； too； that I won the battle； for I happened
to hit Tom of Hopton in the mark； as he was coming in； so that he
lost his wind； and falling squelch on the ground； do ye see； he
lost the battle； though I am free to confess that he was a better
man than myself； indeed； the best man that ever fought in England；
yet still； I won the battle； as every customer of mine； and
everybody within twelve miles round； has heard over and over again。
Now； Mr。 Hunter； I have one thing to say； if you choose to go into
the field behind the house； and fight the young man； you can。 I'll
back him for ten pounds； but no fighting in my kitchen … because
why？ I keeps a decent kind of an establishment。'
'I have no wish to fight the young man；' said Hunter； 'more
especially as he has nothing to say for the aristocracy。 If he
chose to fight for them； indeed … but he won't； I know； for I see
he's a decent； respectable young man； and； after all； fighting is a
blackguard way of settling a dispute； so I have no wish to fight；
however； there is one thing I'll do；' said he； uplifting his fist；
'I'll fight this fellow in black here for half a crown； or for
nothing； if he pleases； it was he that got up the last dispute
between me and the young man； with his Pope and his nonsense； so I
will fight him for anything he pleases； and perhaps the young man
will be my second； whilst you … '
'Come； Doctor；' said the landlord； 'or whatsoever you be； will you
go into the field with Hunter？ I'll second you； only you must back
yourself。 I'll lay five pounds on Hunter； if you are inclined to
back yourself； and will help you to win it as far； do you see； as a
second can； because why？ I always likes to do the fair thing。'
'Oh； I have no wish to fight；' said the man in black； hastily；
'fighting is not my trade。 If I have given any offence； I beg
anybody's pardon。'
'Landlord；' said I； 'what have I to pay？
'Nothing at all；' said the landlord； 'glad to see you。 This is the
first time that you have been at my house； and I never charge new
customers； at least customers such as you； anything for the first
draught。 You'll come again； I daresay； shall always be glad to see
you。 I won't take it；' said he； as I put sixpence on the table； 'I
won't take it。'
'Yes； you shall；' said I； 'but