He said he wondered
that any man could be such a fool as to drink liquor; that he had determined
never to touch another drop. He presently relapsed into silence,
and the other reached out his hand to say good-by. Suddenly rising, he said:
"Well, suppose we go and have just one for old times' sake. Just one now,
mind you; for I have not touched a drop in ----" He turned away,
and I did not catch the length of the time mentioned. But I have
reason to believe that "No. 4" overstated it.
The next time I saw him was in the police court. I happened to be there when
he walked out of the pen among as miscellaneous a lot of chronic drunkards,
thieves, and miscreants of both sexes and several colors as were ever
gathered together. He still had on his old black suit, buttoned up;
but his linen was rumpled and soiled like himself, and he was manifestly
just getting over a debauch, the effects of which were still visible on him
in every line of his perspiring face and thin figure. He walked with
that exaggerated erectness which told his self-deluded state as plainly as if
he had pronounced it in words. He had evidently been there before,
and more than once. The justice nodded to him familiarly:
"Here again?" he asked, in a tone part pleasantry, part regret.
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