"To--fight, sir?" repeated Joe. "Fight?" cried the Old Un rapturously. "Oh, music--sweet music t' me old ears! Fight? Oh, j'yful words! What's the old song say? "''Appy is the first as goes To black a eye or punch a nose!'" "Get the mufflers on, Joe; get 'em on an' don't stand staring like a fool!" "But, sir," said Joe, his mild eyes kindling, "d' ye mean as you want--the real thing?" "To-day," said Ravenslee, "instead of boxing a round or two with Joe Madden, my chauffeur and mechanic, I want to see how long I can stand up to Joe Madden, undefeated champion of the world." Joe's lean cheek flushed and he looked Ravenslee over with eyes of yearning; noted the thin flanks and slender legs that showed speed, the breadth of shoulder and long arms that spoke strength, and the deep, arched chest that showed endurance; Joe looked and sighed and shook his head. "Sir," said he, "I honour and respect you to that degree as it would be a joy to fight such a man as you and a rare privilege t' knock you down--but, sir, if I was to knock ye down--" "You'd earn a five-dollar bill." "Five dollars--for knockin' you down, sir?" "Every time!" nodded Ravenslee. "But Lord, sir--" "Shut up, Joe, shut up," snarled the Old Un, hopping out of the armchair. "Don't gape like a perishin' fish; come on up-stairs an' knock the Guv'nor down like 'e tells ye--an' 'arves on the money, mind; it was me as taught ye all you know or ever will, so 'arves on the money, Joe, 'arves on the money. Come on, Joe--d'j 'ear?" "Crumbs!" said Joe. "Look at 'im. Guv--look at 'im!" shrieked the old man, dancing to and fro in his impatience, "'ere's a chance for 'im to earn a pore old cove a bit o' 'bacca money, an', what's better still, t' show a pore old fightin' man a bit o' real sport--an' there 'e stands, staring like a perishing pork pig! Blimy, Guv, get behind an' 'elp me to shove 'im up-stairs." "But, crikey, sir!" said Joe, "five dollars every time I--" "Yus, yus, you bloomin' hadjective--two dollars fifty for each of us! 'Urry up, oh, 'urry up afore 'e changes 'is mind an' begins to 'edge." So Joe follows his "Guv'nor" and the Old Un up a flight of stairs and into a large chamber fitted as a gymnasium, where are four roped and padded posts socketed into the floor; close by is a high-backed armchair in which the Old Un seats himself with an air of heavy portent. But when Joe would have ducked under the ropes, the Old Un stayed him with an imperious gesture, and, clambering into the ring, advanced to the centre and bowed gravely as if to a countless multitude.