Don't I tell you that His blessed Majesty King George the Third would no more stand a rioting and rollicking in his streets, than he'd stand being crowed over by his own Parliament ?' 'Yes, Johnny, but that's your sense--not your senses,' said the adventurous Mr Parkes.
'How do you know?
'retorted John with great dignity.

'You're a contradicting pretty free, you are, sir.

How do YOU know which it is?
I'm not aware I ever told you, sir.' Mr Parkes, finding himself in the position of having got into metaphysics without exactly seeing his way out of them, stammered forth an apology and retreated from the argument.

There then ensued a silence of some ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, at the expiration of which period Mr Willet was observed to rumble and shake with laughter, and presently remarked, in reference to his late adversary, 'that he hoped he had tackled him enough.' Thereupon Messrs Cobb and Daisy laughed, and nodded, and Parkes was looked upon as thoroughly and effectually put down.
'Do you suppose if all this was true, that Mr Haredale would be constantly away from home, as he is ?' said John, after another silence.
'Do you think he wouldn't be afraid to leave his house with them two young women in it, and only a couple of men, or so ?' 'Ay, but then you know,' returned Solomon Daisy, 'his house is a goodish way out of London, and they do say that the rioters won't go more than two miles, or three at the farthest, off the stones.

Besides, you know, some of the Catholic gentlefolks have actually sent trinkets and suchlike down here for safety--at least, so the story goes.' 'The story goes!' said Mr Willet testily.