Well, brother, the Scotchman, I suppose, thinking I was speaking ill of him, fell into a greater passion than before, and catching hold of the word dukkerin--'Dukkerin,' said he, 'what's dukkerin ?' 'Dukkerin,' said I, 'is fortune, a man or woman's destiny; don't you like the word ?' 'Word! d'ye ca' that a word?
a bonnie word,' said he.

'Perhaps, you'll tell us what it is in Scotch,' said I, 'in order that we may improve our language by a Scotch word; a pal of mine has told me that we have taken a great many words from foreign lingos.' 'Why, then, if that be the case, fellow, I will tell you; it is e'en "spaeing,"' said he, very seriously.

'Well, then,' said I, 'I'll keep my own word, which is much the prettiest--spaeing! spaeing! why, I should be ashamed to make use of the word, it sounds so much like a certain other word;' and then I made a face as if I were unwell.
'Perhaps it's Scotch also for that ?' 'What do ye mean by speaking in that guise to a gentleman ?' said he; 'you insolent vagabond, without a name or a country.' 'There you are mistaken,' said I; 'my country is Egypt, but we 'Gyptians, like you Scotch, are rather fond of travelling; and as for name--my name is Jasper Petulengro, perhaps you have a better; what is it ?' 'Sandy Macraw.' At that, brother, the gentlemen burst into a roar of laughter, and all the ladies tittered." "You were rather severe on the Scotchman, Jasper." "Not at all, brother, and suppose I were, he began first; I am the civilest man in the world, and never interfere with anybody, who lets me and mine alone.

He finds fault with Romany, forsooth! why, L-d A'mighty, what's Scotch?
He doesn't like our songs; what are his own?
I understand them as little as he mine; I have heard one or two of them, and pretty rubbish they seemed.

But the best of the joke is, the fellow's finding fault with Piramus's fiddle--a chap from the land of bagpipes finding fault with Piramus's fiddle! Why, I'll back that fiddle against all the bagpipes in Scotland, and Piramus against all the bagpipers; for though Piramus weighs but ten stone, he shall flog a Scotchman of twenty." "Scotchmen are never so fat as that," said I, "unless indeed, they have been a long time pensioners of England.