"
"Of course, _now_," said Raffles, with a sneer. "_Now_, when you've got
to pay for it."
"I don't know so much about 'have got to pay for it' at all. That grin
of yours doesn't improve your looks, Raffles," said Jack, who was rather
nettled by Raffles' sneer.
"Well, my bantam cock," said Raffles, savagely, "I only 'opes as this
'ere bill won't spoil yours. And let me tell you, young shaver, I want
the money."
Jack calmly took the piece of note-paper which Raffles hurriedly fished
out of his pocket, and flourished dramatically before Bourne. There was
a touching simplicity about Raffles' bill-making that would in ordinary
times have made Jack split with laughter, but, naturally, at the present
time he did not feel in a very jovial frame of mind. Hence he read
through the farrago with only one very strong desire--to kick Raffles
neck and crop out of the stable. This was the bill:--
Mr. burn owes me daniel raffles this money.
To bunneys at sixpence each... 2 0
To 50 cartrigges...... 6 6
To pidgins......... 1 6
1 gunn breech loder...... L7 0 0
_______
totel L7 10 0
"Now, Raffles," said Jack, in a white heat, "what do you mean by this
rotten foolery?"
"There's no foolery about it," said Raffles, sulkily. "That's my bill."
"Why, you unspeakable rascal, did you fancy I'd pay it?"
"I did, and I do."
Something in the fellow's tone made Jack a trifle uneasy, and he
considered within himself for a moment what he had better do.
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