We asked him if he had ever tried washing flannels in the river, and he replied: "No, not exactly himself like; but he knew some fellows who had, and it was easy enough;" and Harris and I were weak enough to fancy he knew what he was talking about, and that three respectable young men, without position or influence, and with no experience in washing, could really clean their own shirts and trousers in the river Thames with a bit of soap.
« Non, pas vraiment », admit-il, mais il connaissait des gars qui l’avaient fait, « et ce n’était pas la mer a boire ». Harris et moi eumes la faiblesse de le croire sur parole : trois honorables jeunes gens, quoique sans situation ni influence et dépourvus d’expérience en matiere de blanchissage, pouvaient fort bien faire leur lessive dans la Tamise a l’aide d’un morceau de savon.