No reply being made to this, except a laugh, the clown (who, by the way, wore a similarly glossy great-coat, with a hat to match) protested that his ears must have deceived him, or his imagination had been whispering hopeful thingswhich was not unlikely, for his imagination was a very powerful onewhen he noticed Franks tall figure among the crowd.
Come now, fireman, this is the wery harticle you wants. You comed out to buy it, I know, an ere it is, by a strange coincidence, ready-made to hand. What dye bid? Six bob? Or say five. I know youve got a wife an a large family o young firemen to keep, so Ill let it go cheap. Praps its too small for you; but thats easy put right. Youve only got to slit it up behind to the neck, which is a infallible cure for a tight fit, an you can let down the cuffs, which is double, an if its short you can cut off the collar, an sew it on to the skirts. Its water-proof, too, and fire-proof, patent asbestos. Wen its dirty youve got nothin to do but walk into the fire, an itll come out noo. Wen its thoroughly wet on the houtside, turn it hinside hout, an there you are, to all appearance as dry as bone. What! you wont have it at no price? Well, now, Ill tempt you. Ill make it two bob.
Say one, cried a baker, who had been listening to this, with a broad grin on his floury countenance.
Ladies and gents, cried the clown, drawing himself up with dignity; theres an individual in this crowdI beg parden, this assemblageas asks me to say one. I do say one, an I say it with melancholy feelins as to the liberality of my species. One bob! A feller-man as has bin burnt hout of is ome an needs ready money to keep im from starvation, offers his best great-coata hextra superfine, double-drilled (or milled, I forget wich) kershimere, from the looms o Tuskanyfor one bob!