Похищенный
Chapter 29
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“I’mnojustverypopularthewayitis,”returnedEbenezer;“andIdinnaeseehowitwouldcometobekennt.Nobyme,onyway;noryetbyyouoryourfriends.Sothat’sidletalk,mybuckie,”sayshe.
“Thenit’llhavetobeDavidthattellsit,”saidAlan.
“Howthat?”saysmyuncle,sharply.
“Ou,justthisway,”saysAlan.“Myfriendswoulddoubtlesskeepyournephewaslongastherewasanylikelihoodofsillertobemadeofit,butiftherewasnane,Iamclearlyofopiniontheywouldlethimgangwherehepleased,andbedamnedtohim!”
“Ay,butI’mnoverycaringaboutthateither,”saidmyuncle.“Iwouldnaebemucklemadeupwiththat.”
“Iwasthinkingthat,”saidAlan.
“Andwhatforwhy?”askedEbenezer.
“Why,Mr.Balfour,”repliedAlan,“byallthatIcouldhear,thereweretwowaysofit:eitheryelikedDavidandwouldpaytogethimback;orelseyehadverygoodreasonsfornotwantinghim,andwouldpayforustokeephim.Itseemsit’snotthefirst;wellthen,it’sthesecond;andblytheamItokenit,foritshouldbeaprettypennyinmypocketandthepocketsofmyfriends.”
“Idinnaefollowyethere,”saidmyuncle.
“No?”saidAlan.“Well,seehere:youdinnaewanttheladback;well,whatdoyewantdonewithhim,andhowmuchwillyepay?”
Myunclemadenoanswer,butshifteduneasilyonhisseat.
“Come,sir,”criedAlan.“IwouldhaveyoutokenthatIamagentleman;Ibearaking’sname;Iamnaeridertokickmyshanksatyourhalldoor.
