hat won't do, my
fine fellow; but as no one is near us, I will speak out. I intend that
you and the young woman should understand one another and agree
beforehand which should be beat; and if you take my advice you will
determine between you that the young woman shall be beat, as I am sure
that the odds will run high upon her, her character as a fist-woman being
spread far and wide, so that all the flats who think it will be all
right, will back her, as I myself would, if I thought it would be a fair
thing." "Then," said I, "you would not have us fight fair?" "By no
means," said the landlord, "because why? I conceives that a cross is a
certainty to those who are in it, whereas by the fair thing one may lose
all he has." "But," said I, "you said the other day that you liked the
fair thing." "That was by way of gammon," said the landlord, "just, do
you see, as a Parliament cove might say, speechifying from a barrel to a
set of flats, whom he means to sell. Come, what do you think of the
plan?" "It's a very ingenious one," said I. "A'n't it?" said the
landlord. "The folks in this neighbourhood are beginning to call me old
fool, but if they don't call me something else, when they sees me friends
with the brewer, and money in my pocket, my name is not Catchpole. Come,
drink your ale, and go home to the young gentlewoman."

"I am going," said I, rising from my seat, after finishing the remainder
of the ale.

"Do you think she'll have any objection?" said the landlord.

"To do what?" said I.

"Why, to fight cross."

"Yes, I do," said I.

"But you will do your best to persuade her?"

"No, I will not," said I.

"Are you fool enough to wish to fight fair?"

"No," said I, "I am wise enough to wish not to fight at all."

"And how's my brewer to be paid?" said the landlord.

"I really don't know," said I.

"I'll change my religion," said the landlord.

CHAPTER XII.--ANOTHER VISIT FROM THE MAN IN BLACK: HIS ESTIMATE OF
MEZZOFANTE.

One evening Belle and myself received another visit from the man in
black. After a little conversation of not much importance, I asked him
whether he would not take some refreshment, assuring him that I was now
in possession of some very excellent Hollands which, with a glass, a jug
of water, and a lump of sugar, were heartily at his service; he accepted
my offer, and Belle going with a jug to the spring, from which she was in
the habit of procuring water for tea, spee