'Say you so? Now I'm pershuaded I was cruel hard trated, seein' fwhat
I've done for the likes av him in the days whin my eyes were wider
opin than they are now. Man alive, for the Colonel to whip _me_ on the
peg in that way! Me that have saved the repitation av a ten times
better man than him! 'Twas ne-farious--an' that manes a power av
evil!'

'Never mind the nefariousness,' I said. 'Whose reputation did you
save?'

'More's the pity, 'twasn't my own, but I tuk more trouble wid ut than
av ut was. 'Twas just my way, messin' wid fwhat was no business av
mine. Hear now!' He settled himself at ease on the top of the carriage.
'I'll tell you all about ut. Av coorse I will name no names, for there's
wan that's an orf'cer's lady now, that was in ut, and no more will I
name places, for a man is thracked by a place.'

'Eyah!' said Ortheris lazily, 'but this is a mixed story wot's comin'.'

'Wanst upon a time, as the childer-books say, I was a recruity.'

'Was you though?' said Ortheris; 'now that's extry-ordinary!'

'Orth'ris,' said Mulvaney, 'av you opin thim lips av yours again, I
will, savin' your presince, Sorr, take you by the slack av your trousers
an' heave you.'

'I'm mum,' said Ortheris. 'Wot 'appened when you was a recruity?'