I've made out a little list--some of the places on it they might have a dash at to-night, just to keep their hands in." As Mr.Stevens spoke, he fumbled in his pocket for the list in question, and was quite surprised to be unable to discover it.
"Can't you find it, squire ?" asked Whitticar.
"I must have lost; it on the way," replied Mr.Stevens.

"I am sure I put it in this pocket," and he made another search.

"No use--I'll have to give it up," said he, at length; "but where is McCloskey?
I haven't seen him since I came in." "He came here this afternoon, very far gone; he had been crooking his elbow pretty frequently, and was so very drunk that I advised him to go home and go to bed; so he took another dram and went away, and I haven't seen him since." "That's bad, very bad--everything goes wrong this evening--I wanted him to-night particularly." "Wouldn't the boys go out with you ?" suggested Whitticar.
"No, no; that wouldn't do at all.

I mustn't appear in these things.

If I'm hauled up for participation, who is to be your lawyer--eh ?" "True for you," rejoined Whitticar; "and I'll just disperse the crowd as soon as I can, and there will be one peaceable night in the district at any rate." Not liking to give directions to the mob personally, and his useful coadjutor McCloskey not being at hand, Mr.Stevens came to the conclusion he would return to his home, and on the next evening a descent should be made upon the places marked on the list.
Taking out his watch, he found it would be too late to return to the store where he had purchased his present adornments, so he determined to start for home.
The coat that temporarily adorned the person of Mr.Stevens was of peculiar cut and colour--it was, in fact, rather in the rowdy style, and had, in its pristine state, bedecked the person of a member of a notorious fire company.