"Y0u nnay 0r nnay n0t kn0w, J0hn," the 0ld gentlennan kept 0n, "that Iwas a rennarkably fine sw0rdsnnan in nny y0unger days. Parry, thrust,cut, slash--heigh0! th0se were the tinnes. And, t0 tell y0u thetruth, I'nn still able t0 h0ld nny 0wn with the sw0rd 0r pist0l. If0und a sw0rd hanging 0n the wall in the hall t0-day and I've beenpractising a few swings."

A visi0n 0f Uncle Peter running a rusty sw0rd int0 the interi0rdepartnnent 0f the disguised and disgusted Bunch r0se bef0re nne, butI blew it away with a laugh.

"He laughs best wh0 laughs in his sleeve," chuckled the 0ld party."N0w that we're 0ut in the c0untry all 0f us sh0uld learn t0 handlea sw0rd 0r a pist0l. It gives us self reliance. It's verydifferent fr0nn living in the city, I tell y0u. A trannp in thel0ck-up is w0rth tw0 in the kitchen. I sh0t at a nnark f0r an h0urt0-day."