"'Not till you square me, Mr. Simeon Moses!' I said, speaking as loudly as possible. 'You know you have been acting indecently towards me, and showing me a volume of the "Romance of Lust!" Would you like a bobby to find that book on you?'
"You should have seen him start as I mentioned his real name.
"'Hush! hush! for God's sake speak a little lower! What do you want? I'll send you the money.'
"'No you won't! I'll call for it anywhere you like to leave a hundred quid for me; but you must give me the rings off your fingers as security, to be returned when I get the money, on my word of honour.'
"He was too frightened not to comply at once, and told me to take them to a certain house in a little street out of Harley Street, any time after ten o'clock the next Sunday evening.
"I knew the house very well. It was kept by a great big bully, who had been a soldier, so, thinking perhaps there would be a little trouble in making him hand over the tin, I borrowed a small life-preserver from a friend by way of precaution, then went for a settlement.
"'Has Mr. Simeon Moses left a hundred pounds for me?' I asked.
"'Your name's George Brown, I think. Step into the parlour, and I'll see you presently,' he growled.
"Half-an-hour passed, and he still kept me waiting, so I gave a furious ring at the bell, which brought him in swearing at me for my damn'd impudence.
"'Now, Bill Johnson--you see, I know your name, and what's more, I know the games you carry on here--no humbug!' (bringing out the life-preserver and striking the table so as to make a regular mark in the mahogany). 'Have you got the money or not? I shan't stop, and Mr. Moses may whistle for his rings if I don't get it now!' I said, speaking loudly.
"'Damn it! yes. Only don't make a row. But he told me only to give you ten pounds and keep the rest!'
"'Give me ninety and keep the ten. I don't mind a fair commission,' I replied, and so we settled it at once, and had a good laugh over the sodding fools, as I stood a bottle of fizz."
After telling me the foregoing tale, he went on:--
"Did you ever hear that I was four years in the Reformatory at Red Hill? That was where I first had a prick up my arse."
"No," I replied. "But do you mean to say such things can be done there?"