But _I_ found it no laughing matter, I can assure you.

And, though it's a long time ago, I feel as sore on the subject as ever." "Quite natural! Never forgive an injury!--_I_ never do!--ha! ha!" "Really, Mr.Jackson, I could almost fancy we had met before.

Your laugh reminds me of--of----" "Whose, Sir ?" demanded Jackson, becoming suddenly grave.
"You'll not be offended, I hope," returned Wood, drily, "if I say that your voice, your manner, and, above all, your very extraordinary way of laughing, put me strangely in mind of one of the 'droll dogs,' (as you term them,) who helped to perpetrate the outrage I've just described." "Whom do you mean ?" demanded Jackson.
"I allude to an individual, who has since acquired an infamous notoriety as a thief-taker; but who, in those days, was himself the associate of thieves." "Well, Sir, his name ?" "Jonathan Wild." "'Sblood!" cried Jackson, rising, "I can't sit still and hear Mr.Wild, whom I believe to be as honest a gentleman as any in the kingdom, calumniated!" "Fire and fury!" exclaimed Smith, getting up with the brandy-bottle in his grasp; "no man shall abuse Mr.Wild in my presence! He's the right-hand of the community! We could do nothing without him!" "_We!_" repeated Wood, significantly.
"Every honest man, Sir! He helps us to our own again." "Humph!" ejaculated the carpenter.
"Surely," observed Thames, laughing, "to one who entertains so high an opinion of Jonathan Wild, as Mr.Jackson appears to do, it can't be very offensive to be told, that he's like him." "I don't object to the likeness, if any such exists, young Sir," returned Jackson, darting an angry glance at Thames; "indeed I'm rather flattered by being thought to resemble a gentleman of Mr.Wild's figure.
But I can't submit to hear the well-earned reputation of my friend termed an 'infamous notoriety.'" "No, we can't stand that," hiccupped Smith, scarcely able to keep his legs.
"Well, gentlemen," rejoined Wood, mildly; "since Mr.Wild is a friend of yours, I'm sorry for what I said.

I've no doubt he's as honest as either of you." "Enough," returned Jackson, extending his hand; "and if I've expressed myself warmly, I'm sorry for it likewise.

But you must allow me to observe, my good Sir, that you're wholly in the wrong respecting my friend.