Have you all ready, Philip?" he said,
addressing himself to Hogan.
"All," replied Philip; "sich a Still, Head, and Worm, you'd not find in
Europe--ready to be set to work at a minute's notice."
"When," said Hycy, rising, "will it be necessary that I should see you
again?"
"We'll let you know," replied Phats, "when we want you. Kate here can
drop in, as if by accident, an' give the hand word."
"Well, then, good-night--stay, give me a glass of whiskey before I go;
and, before I do go, listen. You know the confidence I place in every
one of you on this occasion?"
"We do," replied Philip; "no doubt of it."
"Listen, I say. I swear by all that a man can swear by, that if a soul
of you ever breathes--I hope, by the way, that these young savages are
all asleep--"
"As sound as a top," said Bat, "everyone o' them."
"Well, if a single one of you ever breathes my name or mentions me to
a human being as in any way connected, directly or indirectly, with the
business in which we are engaged, I'll make the country too hot to hold
you--and you need no ghost to tell you how easily I could dispose of you
if it went to that."
Kate, when he had repeated these words, gave him a peculiar glance,
which was accompanied by a short abrupt laugh that seemed to have
something derisive in it.
"Is there anything to be laughed at in what I am saying, most amiable
Mrs.
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