“Do you mean to insinuate that I am not a respectable person, sir?” said a fierce-looking virago, rubbing her fist against Vanslyperken’s nose.  “Smell that!”

It was not a nosegay at all to the fancy of Mr Vanslyperken; he threw himself back, and his chair fell with him.  The ladies laughed, and Mr Vanslyperken rose in great wrath.

“By all the devils in hell,” he exclaimed, whirling the chair round his head, “but I’ll do you a mischief!”

But he was soon pinioned from behind.

“This is very unpolite conduct,” said one; “you call yourself a gentleman?”

“What shall we do, ladies?”

“Do,” replied another; “let’s strip him, and pawn his clothes, and then turn him adrift.”

“Well, that’s not a bad notion,” replied the others, and they forthwith proceeded to take off Mr Vanslyperken’s coat and waistcoat.  How much further they would have gone it is impossible to say, for Mr Vanslyperken had made up his mind to buy himself off as cheap as he could.

Be it observed, that Moggy never interfered, nor took any part in this violence; on the contrary, she continued sitting in her chair, and said, “Indeed, ladies, I request you will not be so violent, Mr Vanslyperken is my friend.  I am sorry that he will not treat you; but if he will not, I beg you will allow him to go away.”

“There, you hear,” cried Mr Vanslyperken; “Mrs Salisbury, am I at liberty to depart?”

“Most certainly, Mr Vanslyperken; you have my full permission.  Ladies, I beg that you will let him go.”

“No, by the living jingo! not till he treats us,” cried one of the women; “why did he come into this shop, but for nothing else?  I’ll have my punch afore he starts.”

“And I my burnt brandy.”  So cried they all, and Mr Vanslyperken, whose coat and waistcoat were already off, and finding many fingers very busy about the rest of his person, perceived that Moggy’s neutrality was all a sham, so he begged to be heard.

“Ladies, I’ll do anything in reason.  As far as five shillings—­”

“Five shillings!” exclaimed the woman; “no, no—­why, a foremast man would come down with more than that.  And you a lieutenant?  Five guineas, now, would be saying something.”

“Five guineas! why I have not so much money.  Upon my soul I hav’n’t.”

“Let us see,” said one of the party, diving like an adept into Vanslyperken’s trousers-pocket, and pulling out his purse.  The money was poured out on the table, and twelve guineas counted out.

“Then whose money is this?” cried the woman; “not yours on your soul; have you been taking a purse to-night?  I vote we sends for a constable.”

“I quite forgot that I had put more money in my purse,” muttered Vanslyperken, who never expected to see it again.  “I’ll treat you, ladies—­treat you all to whatever you please.”

“Bravo! that’s spoken like a man,” cried the virago, giving Vanslyperken a slap on the back which knocked the breath out of his body.