'Do you know either of us?
This side of the screen is private, sir.' 'No offence, I hope,' returned the old man.
'But by G--, sir, there is offence,' said the other, interrupting him, 'when you intrude yourself upon a couple of gentlemen who are particularly engaged.' 'I had no intention to offend,' said the old man, looking anxiously at the cards.

'I thought that--' 'But you had no right to think, sir,' retorted the other.

'What the devil has a man at your time of life to do with thinking ?' 'Now bully boy,' said the stout man, raising his eyes from his cards for the first time, 'can't you let him speak ?' The landlord, who had apparently resolved to remain neutral until he knew which side of the question the stout man would espouse, chimed in at this place with 'Ah, to be sure, can't you let him speak, Isaac List ?' 'Can't I let him speak,' sneered Isaac in reply, mimicking as nearly as he could, in his shrill voice, the tones of the landlord.

'Yes, I can let him speak, Jemmy Groves.' 'Well then, do it, will you ?' said the landlord.
Mr List's squint assumed a portentous character, which seemed to threaten a prolongation of this controversy, when his companion, who had been looking sharply at the old man, put a timely stop to it.
'Who knows,' said he, with a cunning look, 'but the gentleman may have civilly meant to ask if he might have the honour to take a hand with us!' 'I did mean it,' cried the old man.

'That is what I mean.