I've bin bed-ridden fer ten years, lydie, and I lost both me legs in th' battle of Waterloo.

On'y a penny for the battered 'ero good, kind lydie." At supper Nickie declined to unmask.

He would not remove his preposterous false nose.

He also excited doubts and misgivings by the depth of his thirst and his almost miraculous capacity for food.

After supper he was simply impossible.
Nicholas Crips in his sober moments was quiet and unpretentious in his rascalities, his temperament was naturally mild; but under the influence of strong drink he always developed tremendous belief in his own magnificence, strutted about and fondly fancied himself a king.