“ ‘Sir⁠—’

“ ‘I know everything about you, Tom; everything. You’re very poor, Tom.’

“ ‘I certainly am,’ said Tom Smart. ‘But how came you to know that?’

“ ‘Never mind that,’ said the old gentleman; ‘you’re much too fond of punch, Tom.’

“Tom Smart was just on the point of protesting that he hadn’t tasted a drop since his last birthday, but when his eye encountered that of the old gentleman he looked so knowing that Tom blushed, and was silent.