"You are in the right," said Dawdle, "to use such an argument as you know is by me unanswerable.

A wager of twenty guineas will at any time overthrow and confute all the logic of the most able syllogist, who has not got a shilling in his pocket." Sycamore looked very grave at this declaration, and, after a short pause, said, "I wonder, Dawdle, what you do with all your money ?"--"I am surprised you should give yourself that trouble--I never ask what you do with yours."-- "You have no occasion to ask; you know pretty well how it goes."-- "What, do you upbraid me with your favours?
--'t is mighty well, Sycamore."-- "Nay, Dawdle, I did not intend to affront."-- "Z----s! affront! what d'ye mean ?" "I'll assure you, Davy, you don't know me, if you think I could be so ungenerous as to--a--to----"-- "I always thought, whatever faults or foibles you might have, Sycamore, that you was not deficient in generosity,--though to be sure it is often very absurdly displayed."-- "Ay, that's one of my greatest foibles; I can't refuse even a scoundrel, when I think he is in want .-- Here, Dawdle, take that note." -- "Not I, sir,--what d'ye mean ?--what right have I to your notes ?" -- "Nay, but Dawdle,--come."-- "By no means; it looks like the abuse of good-nature;--all the world knows you're good-natured to a fault." -- "Come, dear Davy, you shall--you must oblige me."-- Thus urged, Dawdle accepted the bank-note with great reluctance, and restored the idea to the right owner.
A suit of armour being brought from the garret or armoury of his ancestors, he gave orders for having the pieces scoured and furbished up; and his heart dilated with joy, when he reflected upon the superb figure he should make when cased in complete steel, and armed at all points for the combat.
When he was fitted with the other parts, Dawdle insisted on buckling on his helmet, which weighed fifteen pounds; and, the headpiece being adjusted, made such a clatter about his ears with a cudgel, that his eyes had almost started from their sockets.

His voice was lost within the vizor, and his friend affected not to understand his meaning when he made signs with his gauntlets, and endeavoured to close with him, that he might wrest the cudgel from his hand.

At length he desisted, saying, "I'll warrant the helmet sound by its ringing"; and taking it off, found the squire in a cold sweat.

He would have achieved his first exploit on the spot, had his strength permitted him to assault Dawdle; but what with want of air, and the discipline he had undergone, he had well-nigh swooned away; and before he retrieved the use of his members, he was appeased by the apologies of his companion, who protested he meant nothing more than to try if the helmet was free of cracks, and whether or not it would prove a good protection for the head it covered.
His excuses were accepted; the armour was packed up, and next morning Mr.
Sycamore set out from his own house, accompanied by Dawdle, who undertook to perform the part of his squire at the approaching combat.