登陆注册
5220400000226

第226章

'You are right there,'said the landlord;'much the brewer would care for anything you could say on my behalf-your going would be the very way to do me up entirely.A pretty opinion he would have of the state of my affairs if I were to send him such a 'cessor as you;and as for your lending me money,don't think I was ever fool enough to suppose either that you had any,or if you had that you would be fool enough to lend me any.No,no,the coves of the ring knows better;I have been in the ring myself,and knows what a fighting cove is,and though I was fool enough to back those birds,I was never quite fool enough to lend anybody money.What I am about to propose is something very different from going to my landlord,or lending any capital;something which,though it will put money into my pocket,will likewise put something handsome into your own.I want to get up a fight in this here neighbourhood,which would be sure to bring plenty of people to my house,for a week before and after it takes place;and as people can't come without drinking,I think I could,during one fortnight,get off for the brewer all the sour and unsaleable liquids he now has,which people wouldn't drink at any other time,and by that means,do you see,liquidate my debt;then,by means of betting,making first all right,do you see,I have no doubt that I could put something handsome into my pocket and yours,for I should wish you to be the fighting man,as I think I can depend upon you.''You really must excuse me,'said I;'I have no wish to figure as a pugilist;besides,there is such a difference in our ages;you may be the stronger man of the two,and perhaps the hardest hitter,but I am in much better condition,am more active on my legs,so that Iam almost sure I should have the advantage,for,as you very properly observed,"Youth will be served."''Oh,I didn't mean to fight,'said the landlord;'I think I could beat you if I were to train a little;but in the fight I propose I looks more to the main chance than anything else.I question whether half so many people could be brought together if you were to fight with me as the person I have in view,or whether there would be half such opportunities for betting,for I am a man,do you see;the person Iwants you to fight with is not a man,but the young woman you keeps company with.'

'The young woman I keep company with,'said I;'pray what do you mean?'

'We will go into the bar,and have something,'said the landlord,getting up.'My niece is out,and there is no one in the house,so we can talk the matter over quietly.'Thereupon I followed him into the bar,where,having drawn me a jug of ale,helped himself as usual to a glass of sherry,and lighted a cigar,he proceeded to explain himself further.'What I wants is to get up a fight between a man and a woman;there never has yet been such a thing in the ring,and the mere noise of the matter would bring thousands of people together,quite enough to drink out,for the thing should be close to my house,all the brewer's stock of liquids,both good and bad.''But,'said I,'you were the other day boasting of the respectability of your house;do you think that a fight between a man and a woman close to your establishment would add to its respectability?''Confound the respectability of my house,'said the landlord;'will the respectability of my house pay the brewer,or keep the roof over my head?No,no!when respectability won't keep a man,do you see,the best thing is to let it go and wander.

Only let me have my own way,and both the brewer,myself,and every one of us,will be satisfied.And then the betting-what a deal we may make by the betting-and that we shall have all to ourselves,you,I,and the young woman;the brewer will have no hand in that.I can manage to raise ten pounds,and if by flashing that about I don't manage to make a hundred,call me horse.''But suppose,'said I,'the party should lose,on whom you sport your money,even as the birds did?''We must first make all right,'

said the landlord,'as I told you before;the birds were irrational beings,and therefore couldn't come to an understanding with the others,as you and the young woman can.The birds fought fair;but I intend that you and the young woman should fight cross.''What do you mean by cross?'said I.'Come,come,'said the landlord,'don't attempt to gammon me;you in the ring,and pretend not to know what fighting cross is!That won't do,my fine fellow;but as no one is near us,I will speak out.I intend that you and the young woman should understand one another,and agree beforehand which should be beat;and if you take my advice,you will determine between you that the young woman shall be beat,as I am sure that the odds will run high upon her,her character as a fist-woman being spread far and wide,so that all the flats who think it will be all right will back her,as I myself would,if I thought it would be a fair thing.''Then,'said I,'you would not have us fight fair?''By no means,'said the landlord,'because why?-Iconceives that a cross is a certainty to those who are in it,whereas by the fair thing one may lose all he has.''But,'said I,'you said the other day that you liked the fair thing.''That was by way of gammon,'said the landlord;'just,do you see,as a Parliament cove might say,speechifying from a barrel to a set of flats,whom he means to sell.Come,what do you think of the plan?'

'It is a very ingenious one,'said I.

'Ain't it?'said the landlord.'The folks in this neighbourhood are beginning to call me old fool;but if they don't call me something else,when they sees me friends with the brewer,and money in my pocket,my name is not Catchpole.Come,drink your ale,and go home to the young gentlewoman.'

'I am going,'said I,rising from my seat,after finishing the remainder of the ale.

'Do you think she'll have any objection?'said the landlord.

'To do what?'said I.

'Why,to fight cross.'

'Yes,I do,'said I.

'But you will do your best to persuade her?'

'No,I will not,'said I.

'Are you fool enough to wish to fight fair?'

'No,'said I,'I am wise enough to wish not to fight at all.'

'And how's my brewer to be paid?'said the landlord.

'I really don't know,'said I.

'I'll change my religion,'said the landlord.

同类推荐
  • 宿灵山兰若

    宿灵山兰若

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仿寓意草

    仿寓意草

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蠢子医

    蠢子医

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 祭神州乐章·雍和

    祭神州乐章·雍和

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 净土十疑论

    净土十疑论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 纯情小语

    纯情小语

    《少男少女文摘丛书》汇集的是近年来写得最优美真切、生动感人的少男少女作品。这里有少男少女们初涉爱河的惊喜、迷惘、痛苦和走出“误区”挽手无怨的历程,有对五彩纷呈的世界特殊的感受和选择,有在升学压力之下压弯了腰的哀怨和对父辈们关于人生关于命运关于社会的认从与反叛。
  • 我在仙界的旅行社

    我在仙界的旅行社

    一个小导游,穿梭异界,书写传奇!注:前方高能、请勿模仿!
  • 诡妈妈之孤母怨情

    诡妈妈之孤母怨情

    你相不相信这世界上有鬼?不管你信不信,反正她信了!她叫江玉枝,是位网络作家。婚恋上受过伤的她,在新男友约翰的帮助下,住进了一座古堡。这是一座荒野鬼宅,厉鬼横行,带来了恐怖、血腥和死亡。所有人都陷入了一场危机,打开了地狱的大门。可是,它对江玉枝来说,意义非凡,因为它埋葬了一段尘封多年的往事,一个超越时间的母爱。也许每栋建筑都有主人的记忆,然而它的破败竟与一个神秘的村庄有关!就当她逐渐发现背后的真相时,万般怨念的厉鬼已经疯狂地要将所有人拉进地狱。当过去与现在交织,执念与怨恨交织,每个人的内心都承受着重大考验!
  • 虹

    一个事业如日中天的男高音歌唱家,拥有一个幸福而平静的家庭。命运安排他与一个美丽而哀愁的少妇邂逅,婚外情像人们熟知的那样熊熊燃烧。付出了惨痛代价,他走出了昨日的婚姻,却四顾茫然;少妇迫于丈夫的挟持,在煎熬中一天天憔悴。当她终于可以摆脱不幸婚姻的枷锁而恢复自由的时候,却被不能承受的虚无感改变了既定的轨迹,那个当初带给她激情的男人,却已带着寒冷的内心,回到了前妻的身边。王大进用小说坦然地表达着这样的观点——欲望不仅无处不在,而且支配着人的生存,而欲望的扭曲与幻灭,则彻底地重塑了生活的样貌,甚至人性。
  • 纨绔王妃,王爷高抬贵手

    纨绔王妃,王爷高抬贵手

    丑陋不堪的凤大小姐,未婚先孕生下儿子,成为整个安城的笑话。某一日,从天而降天神般的男子,娶了凤大小姐,从此凤大小姐过上了纨绔王妃的日子。什么,说我王妃丑貌无盐?洗掉她脸上面具般的涂料,闪瞎你们的眼睛。什么,说我王妃不学无术?看她上知天文,下知地理,明阴阳,懂八卦。什么,说我王妃未婚先孕?抖出我儿子的身世,吓破你们的狗胆。---------------某日,王妃无聊,作赋一首,“离离原上草,一岁一枯荣……”某王爷从书中抬头,“你敢不抄白居易的诗吗?”王妃抓狂,“我靠,这什么朝代,连白居易都知道!”某宝掩面,亲娘,你大字不识一个,会背白居易的诗也是难得!*某日,王妃又无聊,作曲一首,“沧海一声笑,滔滔两岸潮……”某王爷吓的书本一抖,“你是羊癫疯要发作了吗?”王妃吐血三尺,“会不会欣赏啊喂?”某宝塞上耳朵,从小已经被这种声音虐习惯了。
  • 武霸苍穹

    武霸苍穹

    天云大陆,武者为尊。少年林辰自微末崛起,习武,炼药,体修,符者统统掌握。武道之巅,以我为峰!
  • 爱妃,听说你要爬墙?(完结)

    爱妃,听说你要爬墙?(完结)

    醒来就发现自己穿越了,十七芳龄的少女竟然变成了一个三岁的小女孩?什么妃子不妃子的,她才不想老死宫中,光是看望不到尽头的宫墙,就可想象以后自己的生活会多么辛苦,什么被毒杀拉,被下计迫害拉,或者直接被匕首插入胸中拉,无论是哪种死法,她都不要,所以,她决定出墙……三岁之时:只是,这个奶娃是谁家的?干嘛紧拽自己的裤子不放?“壹,壹……”小奶娃的手逐渐上升,借着力道他开始攀爬,“悉悉”,然后用力地吸着口水。恩?裤子竟然被他扯掉了?没关系,没关系,她也才三岁,被个吸奶的娃看下没关系。“唔唔……”奶娃的唇直接吸在了她可爱的屁屁之上。“我,要,出,墙!”她大声呐喊。十岁之时:“去哪?”他冷眼望着偷偷摸摸的鬼祟身影。“茅厕。”将包袱往墙外一丢,她开始搬梯子,利落的速度便是她七年中不断累积的经验。“去宫外的茅厕?”额头上青筋浮现。“不对,是去妓院的茅厕看看。”一身男装的她兴奋地开始攀爬。“回去睡觉。”一剑砍断梯子,抱住跌落的娇小身影,直接消逝……十七岁之时:“爱妃,梦游发作了?”他坐在软轿之上,缓缓地扇风。“啊,是这个不知道名字的王爷说要带我出墙。”她倒很干脆的推卸了责任,事不关己,还是高高挂起的好。“王爷拉去砍了,爱妃,下次可别这么明显,浓妆艳抹,谁都知道你是皇妃,本来就丑,可别出来吓人。”侧过脸,她阴狠地笑了笑。她,还是,要,出,墙!
  • 最终幻想之境

    最终幻想之境

    这里是残酷的轮回空间,摆在面前的看上去是一块美味无比的蛋糕,实际上却是致命的陷阱,摆在面前的只有挣扎。
  • 网游之狠角色

    网游之狠角色

    本书以武侠网游剑侠2为背景。讲述了一无名小卒成为一代狠角色的历练之路。
  • 嫡女棣王妃

    嫡女棣王妃

    “姨娘,夫人似乎断气了~”“哼!这么一碗药都下去了,难道她还能活着不成?”“那这······”一个年纪稍长的人朝着这位称作姨娘的人示意了一下自己手中的婴儿,似乎有些犹豫,“这好歹是个男孩,现在夫人已经死了,如果姨娘把他占为己有,然后得了这府中的中馈······”“嬷嬷?!”女子也不等她的话说完,就打断了她,“你记住了,我恨死了这个女人,她的儿子,只能随着她去,我就是以后自己生不出儿子,抱养别人的,也不会要她的。把他给我扔马桶里面溺了,对外就说一出生就死了!”猩红的嘴唇,吐出来的话却是格外的渗人。嬷嬷还想说什么,动了动嘴,却是一句话也没有说,转身朝着后面放着马桶的地方走去。却是没有发现旁边地上一个穿着有些破旧的衣服的小女孩此刻正瞪大了眼睛看着她们两。这是什么情况?自己不是被炸死了吗?怎么会······于此同时,脑中不断有记忆闪现出来,她们是自己的母亲和刚出生的弟弟啊?!不行,先救人。转头看见旁边谁绣花留下的针线跟剪刀,想到自己前世的身手,拿起一根绣花针就朝着那个嬷嬷飞了过去,却在半路上掉落下来,暗骂一声,这人是什么破身体。却引得那两个人听见动静看了过来。女人阴狠的盯着她,“你居然没有死?”微微眯起眼睛,自己的前身也是被她们弄死的了,看样子她们谁也不会放过,抓起旁边的剪刀就冲了过去。随着几声惨叫声,从此以后,府中府外都传遍了她的“美名”——凤家大小姐心肠歹毒,刺伤了府中无数的人,宛如一个疯子。