“ ‘Wouldn’t she?’ said the old gentleman firmly.

“ ‘No, no,’ said Tom; ‘there’s somebody else in the wind. A tall man⁠—a confoundedly tall man⁠—with black whiskers.’

“ ‘Tom,’ said the old gentleman; ‘she will never have him.’

“ ‘Won’t she?’ said Tom. ‘If you stood in the bar, old gentleman, you’d tell another story.’

“ ‘Pooh, pooh,’ said the old gentleman. ‘I know all about that.’

“ ‘About what?’ said Tom.