"Yes, Manuel!" said Tommy, "the Captain sent you some nice bread and
ham, some oranges and raisins, and a bottle of nice claret,--for he
was told by the consul that they didn't give 'em nothing to eat at
the jail. And I had a tug with 'em, I tell you. I got lost once, and
got a good-natured black boy to pilot me for a Victoria
threepence,--but he did not like to carry the bundle to the jail,
for fear of his master. Captain 'll be up first thing in the
morning, if he can get away from business," said the little tar,
opening the haversack and pulling out its contents to tempt the
hungry appetites of those around him.
Daley very coolly took the bottle of claret by the neck, and holding
it between himself and the light, took a lunar squint at it, as if
doubting its contents; and then, putting it down, exclaimed, "Ah!
the divil a red I'd give you for your claret. Sure, why didn't ye
bring a token of good old hardware?" "Hardware! what is hardware?"
inquired Manuel. "Ah! botheration to the bunch of yees--a drap of
old whiskey, that 'd make the delight cum f'nent. Have ye ne'er a
drap among the whole o' yees?" Receiving an answer in the negative,
he turned about with a Kilkenny, "It don't signify," and toddled for
the door, which he left open, to await Tommy's return. Redman knew
Daley's propensity too well, and having ocular proof that he had wet
t'other eye until it required more than ordinary effort to make
either one stay open, he declined recognising his very significant
hint.
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