‘Hope she wasn’t using it herself,’ observed Sponge.

‘Tell her we’ll (hiccup) her health,’ hiccuped Jack, pouring a liberal potation into his tumbler.

‘That’ll be all you’ll do, I dare say,’ muttered Spigot to himself, as he sauntered back to his pantry.

‘Does Jaw stand smoking?’ asked Jack, as Spigot disappeared.

‘Oh, I should think so,’ replied Sponge; ’a friend like you, I’m sure, would be welcome’—­Sponge thinking to indulge in a cigar, and lay the blame on Jack.

‘Well, if you think so,’ said Jack, pulling out his cigar-case, or rather his lordship’s, and staggering to the chimney-piece for a match, though there was a candle at his elbow, ‘I’ll have a pipe.’

‘So’ll I,’ said Sponge, ‘if you’ll give me a cigar.’  ‘Much yours as mine,’ replied Jack, handing him his lordship’s richly embroidered case with coronets and ciphers on either side, the gift of one of the many would-be Lady Scamperdales.

‘Want a light!’ hiccuped Jack, who had now got a glow-worm end to his.

‘Thanks,’ said Sponge, availing himself of the friendly overture.

Our friends now whiffed and puffed away together—­whiffing and puffing where whiffing and puffing had never been known before.  The brandy began to disappear pretty quickly; it was better than the wine.

‘That’s a n—­n—­nice—­ish horse of yours,’ stammered Jack, as he mixed himself a second tumbler.

‘Which?’ asked Sponge.

‘The bur—­bur—­brown,’ spluttered Jack.

‘He is that,’ replied Sponge; ‘best horse in this country by far.’

‘The che—­che—­chest—­nut’s not a ba—­ba—­bad un.  I dare say,’ observed Jack.

‘No, he’s not,’ replied Sponge; ‘a deuced good un.’

‘I know a man who’s rayther s—­s—­s—­sweet on the b—­b—­br—­brown,’ observed Jack, squinting frightfully.

Sponge sat silent for a few seconds, pretending to be wrapt up in his ‘sublime tobacco.’

‘Is he a buyer, or just a jawer?’ he asked at last.

‘Oh, a buyer,’ replied Jack.

‘I’ll sell,’ said Sponge, with a strong emphasis on the sell.

‘How much?’ asked Jack, sobering with the excitement.

‘Which?’ asked Sponge.

‘The brown,’ rejoined Jack.

‘Three hundred,’ said Sponge; adding, ‘I gave two for him.’

‘Indeed!’ said Jack.

A long pause then ensued.  Jack thinking whether he should put the question boldly as to what Sponge would give him for effecting a sale, or should beat about the bush a little.  At last he thought it would be most prudent to beat about the bush, and see if Sponge would make an offer.

‘Well,’ said Jack, ‘I’ll s—­s—­s—­see what I can do.’

‘That’s a good fellow,’ said Sponge; adding, ‘I’ll remember you if you do.’

‘I dare say I can s—­s—­s—­sell them both, for that matter,’ observed Jack, encouraged by the promise.