plied him with drink

Shotaro Ikemaniの小説 "Ninja Justice" を読んでいます。

Hikojiro gambled for a while and then left the mansion at about nine o'clock. He had met the mansion's chief footman, Tomezo, only the previous evening. Hikojiro had plied him with drink and the two of them got on very well, but Hikojiro decided not to try to pump him for information straight away for fear of arousing Tomezo's suspicions.

"plied him with drink" の意味を調べます。

・Oxford English Dictionary: to keep giving somebody large amounts of something, especially food and/or drink: She plied us with tea and cake.
・Merriam-Webster: to offer or give (something) to (someone) repeatedly or constantly: Waiters plied guests with wine and hors d'oeuvres.
・Farlex Dictionary of Idioms: To give one something (especially in large quantities) in order to coax them into providing some benefit in return.: We plied Tom with alcohol to get him to reveal the dark secrets of his business.

最後に引用した辞書にあるように、下心があって饗応する場合に使えますね。