It seemed to be a match which should keep silence longest.

Jack sat Squinting his eyes inside out at Sponge, while Sponge pretended to be occupied with the fire.

The wine being with Sponge, and at length wanting some, he was constrained to make the first move, by passing it over to Jack, who helped himself to port and sherry simultaneously--a glass of sherry after dinner (in Jack's opinion) denoting a gentleman.

Having smacked his lips over that, he presently turned to the glass of port.

He checked his hand in passing it to his mouth, and bore the glass up to his nose.
'Corked, by Jove!' exclaimed he, setting the glass down on the table with a thump of disgust.
It is curious what unexpected turns things sometimes take in the world, and how completely whole trains of well-preconcerted plans are often turned aside by mere accidents such as this.