cussion touching
business. To the observance of this simple rule, indeed, he owed
half his success in life. (During the operation of getting the
better of a fellow-man, it was wellnigh impossible to ruffle Mr
Pamphlett.) "I'll leave you to think it over."

"Thank 'ee," said Nicky-Nan as the banker walked away; and sat on in
the August sunshine, the potable gold of which harmonised with the
tangible gold in his pockets, but so that he, being able to pay the
piper, felt himself in command of the tune. He had ballasted both
pockets with coins. It gave him a wonderful sense of stability, on
the strength of which he had been able to talk with Mr Pamphlett as
one man should with another. And lo! he had prevailed. Obedient to
some subtle sense, Pamphlett had lowered his usual domineering tone,
and was climbing down under the bluff he yet maintained. . . .
Nicky-Nan was not grateful: but already he felt inclined to make
allowance for the fellow. What a mastery money gave!

A voice hailed him from the doorway of the Three Pilchards.

"Mornin', Nicky!"

Nicky-Nan slewed himself about on the bollard, and encountered the
genial gaze of Mr Latter, the landlord. Mr Latter, a retired Petty
Officer of the Navy, stood six feet two inches in his socks, and
carried a stomach which incommoded even that unusual stature.
The entrance-door of the Three Pilchards being constructed in two
flaps, Mr Latter habitually closed the lower one and eased the upper
part of his facade upon it while he surveyed the world.

"Mornin', Nicky!" repeated Mr Latter. "I han't seen ye this couple
o' days; but I had word you weren't gone with the rest, your leg
bein' so bad. Step indoors, an' rest it over a drink."

"You're very kind, Mr Latter," Nicky-Nan answered somewhat stiffly.
"I was just then thinkin' I'd come in and order one for the good o'
the house." To himself he added: "One o' these days I'll teach
that man to speak to me as 'Mr Nanjivell'--though it come to
remindin' him that his wife's mother was my father's wet-nurse, and
glad of the job." But this he growled to himself as he hobbled up
the steps to the door.

"I didn't say anything about payment," Mr Latter remarked affably,
stepping back a pace as he pulled open the flap of the door, and
politely suppressing a groan at the removal of that abdominal
support. "I was askin' you to oblige me by takin' a drink, seein' as
how--"

"Seein' as how _what?_" Nicky-Nan asked with sup