Suppose,
first, an altercation, then a hasty blow--Sturk had his cane, and a
deuced heavy one--he wasn't a fellow to go down without knowing the
reason why; and if they find Nutter, dead or alive, I venture to say
he'll show some marks of it about him.'
Cluffe wished the whole company, except himself, at the bottom of the
Red Sea; for he was taking his revenge of Puddock, and had already lost
a gammon and two hits. Little Puddock won by the force of the dice. He
was not much of a player; and the sight of Dangerfield--that repulsive,
impenetrable, moneyed man, who had 'overcome him like a summer cloud,'
when the sky of his fortunes looked clearest and sunniest, always led
him to Belmont, and the side of his lady-love.
If Cluffe's mind wandered in that direction, his reveries were rather
comfortable. He had his own opinion about his progress with Aunt
Rebecca, who had come to like his conversation, and talked with him a
great deal about Puddock, and always with acerbity; Cluffe, who was a
sort of patron of Puddock's, always, to do him justice, defended him
respectfully. And Aunt Rebecca would listen very attentively, and then
shake her head, and say, 'You're a great deal too good-natured,
captain; and he'll never thank you for your pains, _never_--_I_ can tell
you.
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