"Or maybe you cast it down, careless, on the moonlit shore afore taking your dip!" "My good man, I assure you that I am the victim of an accident.
It so happens that, by a singular chain of mischance, I have not at this moment a penny about me.

But if you will go to the reserved row of the pit and fetch out my friend Mr.Basket--" At this point the Major felt a hand clapped on his shoulder, and turning, was aware of two sailors, belted and wearing cutlasses, who, having lurched up the steps arm-in-arm, stood to gaze, surveying him with a frank interest.
"What's wrong, eh ?" demanded the one who had saluted him, and turned to his comrade, a sallow-faced man with a Newgate fringe of a beard.
"Good Lord, Bill, what is it like ?" "It _looks_ like a wreck ashore," answered the sallow-faced sailor after a slow inspection.
"Talk about bein' fond of the theayter! He must have _swum_ for it," said the other, and stared at the Major round-eyed.

"You'll excuse me; Ben Jope, my name is, bos'n of the _Vesuvius_ bomb; and this here's my friend Bill Adams, bos'n's mate.

_As_ I was sayin', you'll excuse me, but you must be fond of it--a man of your age--by the little you make of appearances." "I was just explaining," stammered the Major, "that although, most unfortunately, I have left my purse at home--" But here he paused as Mr.Jope looked at Mr.Adams, and Mr.Adams answered with a slow and thoughtful wink.
"Go where you will," said Mr.Jope cheerfully, stepping to the ticket-office; "go where you will, and sail the high seas over, 'tis wonderful how you run across that excuse.

Three tickets for the gallery, please; and you, Bill, fall alongside!" He linked an arm in the Major's, who feebly resisted.
"Lord love ye!" said Mr.Jope, "the lie's an old one; but a man that played up to it better in appearances I never see'd nor smelt!".