Take my word for that." I had come to the office that morning determined to let every one see I was ashamed of my conduct; but these insinuations, and the half flattery implied in them, tempted me to join the conversation.
"It was you, not I, proposed ringing the bells," I said.
They all laughed, as if this were a joke.
"Well, that's a cool one if you like," replied Doubleday.

"Why, it was all we could do to keep you from wrenching off the knockers as well, wasn't it, Crow ?" "Never thought we'd keep him from it," said Crow.

"If the bobby hadn't turned up, I do believe he'd have wanted to smash the windows also." "You're making all this up," I said, half amused, half angry, and almost beginning to wonder whether all that was being said of me was true.
"Not likely," said Doubleday; "the fact is, I couldn't have believed it of you if I hadn't seen it.

By the way, Wallop, is it true the Field- Marshal was run in ?" "No, was he ?" exclaimed Wallop, and Crow, and I, all in a breath.
"Well, I passed by Daly's this morning, and he told me he hadn't been home all night, and he supposed he'd have to go and bail him out." "What a game!" cried Wallop.
"You'd call it a game if you had to hand out forty shillings, or take a week," replied Doubleday.

"A nice expensive game this of yours, Master Batchelor.