old
friends Mr. Eustace Fitzherbert and Mr. William Howard Russell), came,
at length, to one with a very red face and a lusty frame of body. "That
gentleman," said he, "is Scarlet Jem; a dangerous fellow for a press,
though he says he likes robbing alone now, for a general press is not
half such a good thing as it used to be formerly. You have no idea what
a hand at disguising himself Scarlet Jem is. He has an old wig which he
generally does business in; and you would not go for to know him again
when he conceals himself under the wig. Oh, he's a precious rogue, is
Scarlet Jem! As for the cove on t' other side," continued the host of
the Jolly Angler, pointing to Long Ned, "all I can say of him, good,
bad, or indifferent, is that he has an unkimmon fine head of hair; and
now, youngster, as you knows him, s'pose you goes and sits by him, and
he'll introduce you to the rest; for, split my wig!" (Gentleman George
was a bit of a swearer) "if I be n't tired; and so here's to your
health; and if so be as your name's Paul, may you always rob Peter [a
portmanteau] in order to pay Paul!"

This witticism of mine host's being exceedingly well received, Paul
went, amidst the general laughter, to take possession of the vacant
seat beside Long Ned. That tall gentleman, who had hitherto been
cloud-compelling (as Homer calls Jupiter) in profound silence, now
turned to Paul with the warmest cordiality, declared himself overjoyed
to meet his old friend once more, and congratulated him alike on his
escape from Bridewell and his admission to the councils of Gentleman
George. But Paul, mindful of that exertion of "prudence" on the part
of Mr. Pepper by which he had been left to his fate and the mercy of
Justice Burnflat, received his advances very sullenly. This coolness so
incensed Ned, who was naturally choleric, that he turned his back on
our hero, and being of an aristocratic spirit, muttered something about
"upstart, and vulgar clyfakers being admitted to the company of swell
tobymen." This murmur called all Paul's blood into his cheek; for though
he had been punished as a clyfaker (or pickpocket), nobody knew better
than Long Ned whether or not he was innocent; and a reproach from him
came therefore with double injustice and severity. In his wrath he
seized Mr. Pepper by the ear, and telling him he was a shabby scoundrel,
challenged him to fight.

So pleasing an invitation not being announced sotto voce, but in a tone
suited to the