"The Nipper it is!" he cried. "I could swear to that walk in a
pantomime procession! See the independence in every step: that's
his heel on the neck of the oppressor: it's the nonconformist
conscience in baggy breeches. I must speak to him, Bunny. There
was a lot of good in the old Nipper, though he and I did bar each
other."
And in a moment he had accosted the man by the boy's nickname,
obviously without thinking of an affront which few would have read
in that hearty open face and hand.
"My name's Nasmyth," snapped the other, standing upright to glare.
"Forgive me," said Raffles undeterred. "One remembers a nickname
and forgets all. it never used to mean. Shake hands, my dear fellow!
I'm Raffles. It must be fifteen years since we met."
"At least," replied Nasmyth coldly; but he could no longer refuse
Raffles his hand. "So you are going down," he sneered, "to this
great gathering?" And I stood listening at my distance, as though
still in the middle fourth.
"Rather!" cried Raffles. "I'm afraid I have let myself lose touch,
but I mean to turn over a new leaf.
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