Jack thinking whether he should put the question boldly as to what Sponge would give him for effecting a sale, or should beat about the bush a little.

At last he thought it would be most prudent to beat about the bush, and see if Sponge would make an offer.
'Well,' said Jack, 'I'll s--s--s--see what I can do.' 'That's a good fellow,' said Sponge; adding, 'I'll remember you if you do.' 'I dare say I can s--s--s--sell them both, for that matter,' observed Jack, encouraged by the promise.
'Well,' replied Sponge, 'I'll take the same for the chestnut; there isn't the toss-up of a halfpenny for choice between them.' 'Well,' said Jack,' we'll s--s--s--see them next week.' 'Just so,' said Sponge.
'You r--r--ride well up to the h--h--hounds,' continued Jack; 'and let his lordship s--s--see w--w--what they can do.' 'I will,' said Sponge, wishing he was at work.
'Never mind his rowing,' observed Jack; 'he c--c--can't help it.' 'Not I,' replied Sponge, puffing away at his cigar.
When men once begin to drink brandy-and-water (after wine) there's an end of all note of time.

Our friends--for we 'may now call them so,' sat sip, sip, sipping--mix, mix, mixing; now strengthening, now weakening, now warming, now flavouring, till they had not only finished the hot water but a large jug of cold, that graced the centre of the table between two frosted tumblers, and had nearly got through the brandy too.
'May as well fi--fi--fin--nish the bottle,' observed Jack, holding it up to the candle.

'Just a thi--thi--thim--bleful apiece,' added he, helping himself to about three-quarters of what there was.
'You've taken your share,' observed Sponge, as the bottle suspended payment before he got half the quantity that Jack had.
'Sque--ee--eze it,' replied Jack, suiting the action to the word, and working away at an exhausted lemon.
At length they finished.
'Well, I s'pose we may as well go and have some tea,' observed Jack.
'It's not announced yet,' said Sponge, 'but I make no doubt it will be ready.' So saying, the worthies rose, and, after sundry bumps and certain irregularities of course, they each succeeded in reaching the door.

The passage lamp had died out and filled the corridor with its fragrance.
Sponge, however, knew the way, and the darkness favored the adjustment of cravats and the fingering of hair.