He thought he had got hold of a grand joke at my expense.
However, I was not in the least angry with him.

I felt too happy to have lost my temper with any one, especially Horner, whom I generally regarded as a poor creature to be tolerated rather than blamed.
"Did you ever hear, Horner," said I, "how Peabody made his first fortune ?" "No, 'pon honah, I asshaw you, no." "Well, then, I'll tell you, Horner," said I.

"It was by minding his own business, my dear fellow." "Bai-ey Je-ove!" he ejaculated, adding, after a pause, "Weally, Lorton, you dawn't mean it ?" "I suppose," I continued, "that you are also just as ignorant again how Mr Peabody made his second and greater fortune, eh ?" "Yaas," he drawled out.
"Ah," said I, "he got _that_ by letting other people's business alone!" "Bai-ey Je-ove!" said Horner, quite staggered at this second blow.
"Vewy amusing anecdote, indeed! Thank you, Lorton.

Much obwiged, and all that sawt of thing, for the in-fawmation.

Yaas, bai-ey Je-ove! And so I'll say good day.