"Pinch me, Alfred," said the stoker, after an interval of appalled silence.

"Go back," said the stoker, "and I will bring him to thee."

"O my lord," said the stoker, "I fear...," "Fear not," quoth the Sultan.

"In my little locker in the van, since you're so curious," said the stoker grudgingly.

"And I with thee," said the stoker; "for I cannot bear to part with thee.

"Leave this weeping and lamenting," said the stoker, "for we are near the Chamberlain's tent."

"I don't think," said the stoker, in a hard, high tone, "I knows 'e is."

"Burned to cinders," said the stoker comfortably.

"Same with me," said the stoker happily.

"Then it's nineteen to one the company won't pay up," said the stoker after an appalled silence.

"You won't leave a whole bone in his dirty little carcase once you're started," said the stoker confidently.

"I shouldn't wonder if Government 'ung on to they savings o' yourn," said the stoker, shaking his head.

"I can," said the stoker, following his comrade as he gingerly withdrew from the immediate scene of the tragedy.

"On'y a glim," said the stoker in a satisfied tone, "but it showed me as I've made my money.

"The truth, I 'ope," said the stoker, with a vicious look in an eye which was naturally small and artificially bilious.

"Like wot I am, an' with clean 'ands for both of us," said the stoker in a tone of cheerful self-congratulation.