"Such another," said one, "you will not find in a summer's day." "No, nor in the whole of England," said the other.

"Tom of Hopton," said the first: "ah! Tom of Hopton," echoed the other; "the man who could beat Tom of Hopton could beat the world." "I glory in him," said the first.

"So do I," said the second, "I'll back him against the world.

Let me hear any one say anything against him, and if I don't--" then, looking at me, he added, "have you anything to say against him, young man ?" "Not a word," said I, "save that he regularly puts me out." "He'll put any one out," said the man, "any one out of conceit with himself;" then, lifting a mug to his mouth, he added, with a hiccough, "I drink his health." Presently the landlord, as he moved about, observing me, stopped short: "Ah!" said he, "are you here?
I am glad to see you, come this way.

Stand back," said he to his company, as I followed him to the bar, "stand back for me and this gentleman." Two or three young fellows were in the bar, seemingly sporting yokels, drinking sherry and smoking.