'I don't like trusting my china to the hands of a tender-foot.'

'Quite right, though your china would prove an excellent means of
defence at long range.' It was delf, a quarter of an inch thick. So I
smoked while he washed up, swept, dusted, and arranged the room.

After the room was ordered to his taste, we proceeded to hold council.
He could offer dinner, magic lantern, music. 'We can fill in time for
two hours, but,' he added gloomily, 'we can't beat the dance and the
"High Kickers."'

'Have you nothing new or startling?'

He shook his head.

'No kind of show? Dog show? Snake charmer?'

'Slavin has a monopoly of the snakes.'

Then he added hesitatingly, 'There was an old Punch-and-Judy chap here
last year, but he died. Whisky again.'

'What happened to his show?'

'The Black Rock Hotel man took it for board and whisky bill. He has it
still, I suppose.'

I did not much relish the business; but I hated to see him beaten, so
I ventured, 'I have run a Punch and Judy in an amateur way at the