Mr.Cullen filled a little black pipe.
'Got alight ?' Mr.Cowes offered the glowing bowl of his own clay; they put their noses together and blew a cloud.
'Of course there's no saying what time 'll do,' observed tall Mr.Cowes, sententiously, after a gulp of warm liquor.
'No more there is,' assented short Mr.Cullen with half a wink.
'It's easy to promise.' 'As easy as tellin' lies.' Another silence.
'Don't suppose you and me 'll get much of it,' Mr.Cowes ventured to observe.
'About as much as you can put in your eye without winkin',' was the other's picturesque agreement.
They talked till closing time..