To me after supper that night was assigned the task of reading and rereading many times to Sir George the contents of the beautiful parchment.

When I would read a clause that particularly pleased my cousin, he insisted on celebrating the event by drinking a mug of liquor drawn from a huge leather stoup which sat upon the table between us.

By the time I had made several readings of the interesting document the characters began to mingle in a way that did not impart ease and clearness to my style.

Some of the strange combinations which I and the liquor extracted from amid the seals and ribbons puzzled Sir George not a little.

But with each new libation he found new clauses and fresh causes for self-congratulation, though to speak exact truth I more than once married Sir George to the Earl of Derby, and in my profanity gave Lord James Stanley to the devil to have and to hold.
Sir George was rapidly falling before his mighty enemy, drink, and I was not far behind him, though I admit the fault with shame.