Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 20, 1896 - Travels and excursion, Volume III

DAVID AND GOLIATH
* No,' said Davis. ' But there 's another thing.
What are we to write ? '
* O my golly ! ' cried the exasperated Huish.
' Wot kind of man do you call yourself ? / 'm goin'
to tell you wot to write ; that 's my pitch ; if you '11
just be so bloomin' condescendin' as to write it
down ! William John Attwater, Esq., Sir : ' he
reiterated. And, the captain at last beginning half
mechanically to move his pen, the dictation pro-
ceeded : ' It is with feelings of shyme and 'artfelt
contrition that I approach you after the yumiliatvrC
events of last night. Our Mr. 'Errick has left the
ship, and will have doubtless communicated to you
the nature of our 'opes. Needless to s'y, these are no
longer possible : Fate 'as declyred against us, and we
bow the 'ead. Well awyre as I am of the just
suspicions with w'ich I am regarded, 1 do not venture
to solicit the fyvour of an interview for myself, but
in order to put an end to a situytion w'ich must be
equally pyrieful to all, I 'ave deputed my friend and
partner, Mr. J. L. Huish, to l'y before you my pro-
posals, and w'ich by their moderytion, will, I trust, be
found to merit your attention. Mr. J. L. Huish
is entirely unarmed, I swear to Gawd! and will 'old
his 'ands over 'is 'ead from the moment he begins to ap-
proach you. I am yourfytheful servant, John Dyvis. '
Huish read the letter with the innocent joy of
amateurs, chuckled gustfully to himself, and re-
opened it more than once after it was folded, to
repeat the pleasure ; Davis meanwhile sitting inert
and heavily frowning.
361