"oh, what nonsense! you must buy one. french or english are the best, they say. then take a little powder, about a thimbleful, or perhaps two, and pour it into the barrel. better put plenty. then push in a bit of felt (it must be felt, for some reason or other); you can easily get a bit off some old mattress, or off a door; it’s used to keep the cold out. well, when you have pushed the felt down, put the bullet in; do you hear now? the bullet last and the powder first, not the other way, or the pistol won’t shoot. what are you laughing at? i wish you to buy a pistol and practise every day, and you must learn to hit a mark for certain; will you?"