Of the two
plans of retirement, Carthew gathered that his own had
been vastly the more lucrative; but Hadden's trading
outfit had consisted largely of bottled stout and brown
sherry for his own consumption.
"I had champagne too," said Hadden, "but I kept that in
case of sickness, until I didn't seem to be going to be
sick, and then I opened a pint every Sunday. Used to
sleep all morning, then breakfast with my pint of fizz,
and lie in a hammock and read Hallam's MIDDLE AGES.
Have you read that? I always take something solid to
the islands. There's no doubt I did the thing in
rather a fine style; but if it was gone about a little
cheaper, or there were two of us to bear the expense,
it ought to pay hand over fist. I've got the
influence, you see. I'm a chief now, and sit in the
speak-house under my own strip of roof I'd like to see
them taboo ME! They daren't try it; I've a strong
party, I can tell you. Why, I've had upwards of thirty
cowtops sitting in my front verandah eating tins of
salmon."
"Cowtops?" asked Carthew, "what are they?"
"That's what Hallam would call feudal retainers,"
explained Hadden, not without vainglory.
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