You see,
I've known him for a dozen years and more, and he likes me, though God
knows why, unless it may be that I once did his son a good turn in
London."
"Sufficient excuse for reparation, I should say," smiled Barnes.
"I introduced the lad to me only sister," said O'Dowd, "and she kept
him happy for the next ten years. No doubt, I also provided Mr. Curtis
with three grandchildren he might never have had but for my
graciousness. As for that, I let meself in for three of the most
prodigious nephews a man ever had, God bless them. I'll show you a
photograph of them if ye'd care to look." He opened the back of his
watch and held it out to Barnes. "Nine, seven and five, and all of
them as bright as Gladstone."
"They must be stunning," said Barnes warmly.
"They'll make a beggar of me, if I live long enough," groaned O'Dowd.
"It beats the deuce how childer as young as they are can have
discovered what a doddering fool their uncle is. Bedad, the smallest
of them knows it. The very instant I pretend to be a sensible,
provident, middle-aged gentleman he shows me up most shamelessly.
'Twas only a couple of months ago that his confounded blandishments
wiggled a sixty-five dollar fire engine out of me.
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