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“PETER the ’Ermit was a ’oly bloke,”
The parson sez, “wot chivvied coves to war.”
“Too right,” I chips. “I’ve ’eard that yarn before.”
“Brave knights sprung straight to arms where’er ’e spoke.”
“Sure thing,” sez I. “It muster been no joke
“Tinnin’ yer frame in them dead days uv yore
Before yeh starts to tap a foeman’s gore.”
“Peter the ’Ermit was a man inspired,”
The parson sez. We’re moochin’ up the Lane,
Snoopin’ around for news we might obtain
Uv this Spike Wegg, the man ’oo I am ’ired
To snatch by ’ook or crook, jist as required
By circs, frum out the sev’ril sins wot stain
’Is wicked soul. I ’ope me meanin’s plain.
“Peter the ’Ermit,” sez the parson, “saw
“No ’arm in vi’lince when the cause was just.
“While ’e deplored, no doubt, the fightin’ lust,
“’E preached—” “’Old on,” I sez. “’Ere comes the Law:
“’Ere’s Brannigan, the cop. Pos’pone the jaw
“Till we confer. I got idears ’e must
“Keep track uv Spike; if ’e toils fer ’is crust.”
“Spike Wegg?” growls Brannigan. “I know that bloke;
“An’ ’e’s the one sweet soul I long to see.
“That shrinkin’ vi’lit ’ates publicity
“Jist now,” sez Brannigan. “Spike Wegg’s in smoke.
“Oh, jist concerns a cove ’e tried to croak.
“’E’s snug in some joint round about, maybe.
“If you should meet, remember ’im to me.”
The cop passed on. “Peter the ’Ermit was
“A ri’chus man,” the parson sez, “wot knoo—”
“’Old ’ard!” I begs. “Jist for a hour or two
“I wouldn’t go an’ nurse sich thorts, becoz
“Too much soul-ferritin’ might put the moz
“On this ’ere expedition. I’ll ’elp you
“To search our conscience when the job is through.
“I know yer doubts,” I sez, “an’ ’ow you ’ate
“The thorts uv stoush, an’ ’old ’ard blows in dread.
“But Pete the ’Ermit’s been a long time dead.
“’E’ll keep. But we are in the ’ands uv Fate,
“An’ ’oly spruikers uv a ancient date
“Don’t ’elp. I quite agrees with all you’ve said
“But—” “Say no more,” ’e answers. “Lead ahead.”
“But, all the same,” ’e sez, “I want no fight.”
“Right ’ere, be’ind this ’oardin’,” I replies,
“A two-up school’s in session. If we spies
“About a bit, there is a chance we might
“Git news—” Jist then the spotter comes to light.
I word ’im gentle, with some ’asty lies:
I’m seekin’ Spike. See? Can ’e put me wise?
“Spike Wegg?” (At first ’e only twigs meself)
“’E’s gone—” (’E spots the parson standin’ by)
A cold, ’ard glimmer comes in ’is fish eye:
“’Ere! Wot’s the game?” ’e yelps. “Are you a shelf?”
“’Ave sense!” I larfs. “I got a bit uv pelf,
An’ thort I’d like to take a little fly—”
“Buzz orfl” ’e orders. So we done a guy.
“Blank number one,” I sez. The parson sighed.
“Joshuer fought, an’ never seemed to shrink—”
“Now, look,” I tells ’im. “Honest. Don’t you think
“Them Bible blokes ’oo’ve ’ad their day an’ died
“Is best fergot until we’re ’ome an’ dried?
“Now, up the street ’ere, is a little sink
“Uv sin that does a traffic in strong drink.”
“Sly grog?” ’e arsts. But I sez, “’Ush! This place
“Is kep’ by Mother Weems, ’oo’s sof’, blue eye
“An’ snow-white ’air would make yeh ’shamed an’ shy
“To brand ’er name with any sich disgrace.
“’Er kind, sweet smile, ’er innercint ole face.
“Beams like a blessin’. Still, we’ll ’ave a try
“To word the dear ole dame, an’ pump ’er dry.”
’Is nibs stands in the shadders while I knock.
Mother unlocks the door, an’ smiles, an’ peers
Into me face. She wears ’er three score years
Reel sweet, in lacy cap an’ neat black frock.
Then: “Bill,” she cries. “You’ve give me quite a shock!
“Why, dearie, I ain’t seen you for long years.
“Come in.” ’Er kind ole eyes seem close to tears.
“Dearie, come in,” she chirps. But I pretend
I’m on reel urgent biz; I got to ’aste
“Jist for ole times,” she pleads. “One little taste.”
“I can’t,” I sez. “I’m lookin’ for a friend,
“Spike Wegg, for ’oo I’ve certin news no end
“Important; an’ I got no time to waste.”
“Wot? Spike?” she sez. “I ’ear ’e’s bein’ chased.”
“’E’s bein’ chased,” she sez, “by D’s, I’ve ’eard.”
“Too true,” I owns. “’E’s got no time to lose.”
“Well, maybe, if you was to try Ah Foo’s—
The privit room—” Then, as ’is rev’rince stirred,
She seen ’is choker. “’Oo the ’ell’s this bird?
“Is this a frame?” she shrieks . . . Without adoos,
We slap the pavemint with four ’asty shoes.
But, as along the sloppy lane we race,
’Er ’or words tumble after in a flood:
“You pimps! You dirty swine! I’ll ’ave yer blood!”
“’Eavings!” the parson gasps. “With that sweet face!”
“’Er words,” I answer, “do seem outer place.”
“Vile words, that I ’ave scarce ’arf understud.”
Sez Snowy, shoshin’ in a pool uv mud.
We reach Ah Foo’s. “Now, ’ere,” I sez, “is where
“You stop outside. Twice you ’ave put me queer
“It’s a lone ’and I mean to play in ’ere.
“You ’ang around an’ breathe the ’olesome air.”
“Young friend,” ’e sez, “I go with you in there.
“I’ve led you into this. Why should I fear
“The danger? ’Tis me jooty to be near.”
Snowy’s a game un! I lob in the shop,
The parson paddin’ after on the floor.
Ah Foo looks up. “Not there!” ’e squeaks. “Wha’ for?”
But we sail past the Chow without a stop,
Straight for the little crib up near the top
That I knoo well in sinful days uv yore . . .
I turn the knob; an’ sling aside the door.
Beside a table, fearin’ ’arm from none,
Spike an’ another bloke is teet-ah-teet.
Quick on the knock, Spike Wegg jumps to ’is feet
An’ jerks a ’and be’ind ’im for ’is gun.
I rush ’im, grab a chair up as I run,
An’ swing it with a aim that ain’t too neat.
Spike ducks aside; an’, with a bump, we meet.
An’ then we mix it. Strife an’ merry ’ell
Breaks loose a treat, an’ things git movin’ fast.
An’, as a Chinese jar goes crashin’ past,
’Igh o’er the din I ’ears the parson’s yell:
“Hit! Hit ’im ’ard young friend. Chastise ’im well!
“Hit ’im!” . . . The ’oly war is in full blast;
An’ Pete the ’Ermit’s come to light at last.
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