Yesterday I had been reduced from affluence to poverty with an unexpectedness that had dazed me for the time being, and, from the poverty of an hour ago, I now found myself reduced to an utter destitution, without the wherewithal to pay for the meanest night’s lodging.  And, contrasting the careless ease of a few days since with my present lamentable situation, I fell into a gloomy meditation; and the longer I thought it over, the more dejected I became.  To be sure, I might apply to Sir Richard for assistance, but my pride revolted at even the thought, more especially at such an early stage; moreover, I had determined, beforehand, to walk my appointed road unaided from the first.

From these depressing thoughts I was presently aroused by a loud, rough voice at no great distance, to which, though I had been dimly conscious of it for some time, I had before paid no attention.  Now, however, I raised my eyes from the spot upon the floor where they had rested hitherto, and fixed them upon the speaker.

He was a square-shouldered, bullet-headed fellow, evidently held in much respect by his companions, for he occupied the head of the table, and I noticed that when ever he spoke the others held their peace, and hung upon the words with an appearance of much respect.

“‘Yes, sirs,’ says I,” he began, louder than before, and with a flourish of his long-stemmed pipe, “’yes, sirs, Tom Cragg’s my name an’ craggy’s my natur,’ says I.  ’I be ’ard, sirs, dey-vilish ‘ard an’ uncommon rocky!  ‘Ere’s a face as likes good knocks,’ I says, ‘w’y, when I fought Crib Burke o’ Bristol ’e broke ’is ‘and again’ my jaw, so ‘e did, an’ I scarce knowed ’e’d ’it me till I see ’im ‘oppin’ wi’ the pain of it.  Come, sirs,’ says I, ’who’ll give me a black eye; a fiver’s all I ask.’  Well, up comes a young buck, ready an’ willin’.  ‘Tom,’ says ’e, ’I’ll take two flaps at that figger-head o’ yourn for seven guineas, come, what d’ye say?’ I says, ‘done,’ says I. So my fine gentleman lays by ’is ‘at an’ cane, strips off ‘is right-’and glove, an’ ‘eavin’ back lets fly at me.  Bang comes ‘is fist again’ my jaw, an’ there’s my gentleman a-dabbin’ at ‘is broken knuckles wi’ ’is ’ankercher.  ’Come, my lord,’ says I, ‘fair is fair, take your other whack.’  ‘Damnation!’ says ’e, ‘take your money an’ go to the devil!’ says ’e, ’I thought you was flesh an’ blood an’ not cast iron!’ ‘Craggy, my lord,’ says I, gathering up the rhino, ‘Cragg by name an’ craggy by natur’, my lord,’ says I.”

Hereupon ensued a roar of laughter, with much slapping of thighs, and stamping of feet, while the bullet-headed man solemnly emptied his tankard, which was the signal for two or three of those nearest to vie for its possession, during which Tom Cragg sucked dreamily at his pipe and stared placidly up at the ceiling.

“Now, Tom,” said a tall, bony individual, chiefly remarkable in possessing but one eye, and that so extremely pale and watery as to give one the idea that it was very much overworked, “now, Tom,” said he, setting down the refilled tankard at the great man’s elbow with a triumphant flourish, “tell us ’ow you shook ’ands wi’ the Prince Regent.”