‘I think I know his (hiccup) face,’ replied Bob Spangles, imitating his brother-in-law.

‘I’ve seen him somewhere,’ observed the other Spangles, through a mouthful of beef.

‘So have I,’ exclaimed some one else, ‘but where I can’t say.’

‘Most likely at church,’ observed brother Bob Spangles.

‘Well, I don’t think he’ll corrupt me,’ observed Captain Quod, speaking between the fumes of a cigar.

‘He’ll not borrow much of me,’ observed Captain Seedeybuck, producing a much tarnished green purse, and exhibiting two fourpenny-pieces at one end, and three-halfpence at the other.

‘Oh, I dare say he’s a good feller,’ observed Sir Harry; ’I make no doubt he’s one of the right sort.’

Just then in came the man himself, hat and whip in hand, waving the brush proudly over his head.

‘Ah, that’s (hiccup) right, old feller,’ exclaimed Sir Harry, again advancing with extended hand to meet him, adding, ’you’d (hiccup) all you wanted for your (hiccup) horse:  mutton broth—­I mean barley-water, foot-bath, everything right.  Let me introduce my (hiccup) brother-in-law, Bob Spangles, my (hiccup) friend Captain Ladofwax, Captain Quod, Captain (hiccup) Bouncey, Captain (hiccup) Seedeybuck, and my (hiccup) brother-in-law, Mr. Spangles, as lushy a cove as ever was seen; ar’n’t you, old boy?’ added he, grasping the latter by the arm.

All these gentlemen severally bobbed their heads as Sir Harry called them over, and then resumed their respective occupations—­eating, drinking, and smoking.

These were some of the debauched gentlemen Mr. Sponge had seen before Nonsuch House in the morning.  They were all captains, or captains by courtesy.  Ladofwax had been a painter and glazier in the Borough, where he made the acquaintance of Captain Quod, while that gentleman was an inmate of Captain Hudson’s strong house.  Captain Bouncey was the too well-known betting-office keeper; and Seedeybuck was such a constant customer of Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque’s court, that that worthy legal luminary, on discharging him for the fifth time, said to him, with a very significant shake of the head, ‘You’d better not come here again, sir.’  Seedeybuck, being of the same opinion, had since fastened himself on to Sir Harry Scattercash, who found him in meat, drink, washing, and lodging.  They were all attired in red coats, of one sort or another, though some of which were of a very antediluvian, and others of a very dressing-gown cut.  Bouncey’s had a hare on the button, and Seedeybuck’s coat sat on him like a sack.  Still a scarlet coat is a scarlet coat in the eyes of some, and the coats were not a bit more unsportsmanlike than the men.  To Mr. Sponge’s astonishment, instead of breaking out in inquiries as to where they had run to, the time, the distance, who was up, who was down, and so on, they began recommending the victuals and drink; and this, notwithstanding Mr. Sponge kept flourishing the brush.