"
"Why, what would you have me to do?" said the captain--"Would you have
me starve? If I am to fly, you must eke my wings with a few feathers.
You can spare them, I think."
"You had means already--you have had ten pieces--What is become of
them?"
"Gone," answered Captain Colepepper--"Gone, no matter where--I had a
mind to bite, and I was bitten, that's all--I think my hand shook at
the thought of t'other night's work, for I trowled the doctors like a
very baby."
"And you have lost all, then?--Well, take this and be gone," said the
scrivener.
"What, two poor smelts! Marry, plague of your bounty!--But remember,
you are as deep in as I."
"Not so, by Heaven!" answered the scrivener; "I only thought of easing
the old man of some papers and a trifle of his gold, and you took his
life."
"Were he living," answered Colepepper, "he would rather have lost it
than his money.--But that is not the question, Master Skurliewhitter--
you undid the private bolts of the window when you visited him about
some affairs on the day ere he died--so satisfy yourself, that, if I
am taken, I will not swing alone. Pity Jack Hempsfield is dead, it
spoils the old catch,
'And three merry men, and three merry men,
And three merry men are we,
As ever did sing three parts in a string,
All under the triple tree.'"
"For God's sake, speak lower," said the scrivener; "is this a place or
time to make your midnight catches heard?--But how much will serve
your turn? I tell you I am but ill provided.
Pages:
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676