Викрадений
Chapter 9
”(ItwasthefirstwordofanyreligionIhadeverheardfromhim,butIlearntafterwardshewasagreatchurch-goerwhileonshore.)“But,forallthat,”sayshe,“Icanbesorrytoseeanothermanwithhisbacktothewall.”
“Canyeso,indeed?”askedtheJacobite.“Well,sir,tobequiteplainwithye,Iamoneofthosehonestgentlementhatwereintroubleabouttheyearsforty-fiveandsix;and(tobestillquiteplainwithye)ifIgotintothehandsofanyofthered-coatedgentry,it’slikeitwouldgohardwithme.Now,sir,IwasforFrance;andtherewasaFrenchshipcruisingheretopickmeup;butshegaveusthego-byinthefog—asIwishfromtheheartthatyehaddoneyoursel’!AndthebestthatIcansayisthis:IfyecansetmeashorewhereIwasgoing,Ihavethatuponmewillrewardyouhighlyforyourtrouble.”
“InFrance?”saysthecaptain.“No,sir;thatIcannotdo.Butwhereyecomefrom—wemighttalkofthat.”
Andthen,unhappily,heobservedmestandinginmycorner,andpackedmeofftothegalleytogetsupperforthegentleman.Ilostnotime,Ipromiseyou;andwhenIcamebackintotheround-house,Ifoundthegentlemanhadtakenamoney-beltfromabouthiswaist,andpouredoutaguineaortwouponthetable.Thecaptainwaslookingattheguineas,andthenatthebelt,andthenatthegentleman’sface;andIthoughtheseemedexcited.
“Halfofit,”hecried,“andI’myourman!”
Theothersweptbacktheguineasintothebelt,andputitonagainunderhiswaistcoat.
