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286 And with a soothing gesture he stretched the pill-box towards the recoiling nose of the traveller. But, though a man who could as well as any one make the best of a bad condition, the traveller was especially careful of his health, and so obstinate was he where that was concerned, that he would rather have submitted to the effectual operation of a bullet, than incurred the chance operation of an extra-pill. He, therefore, with great indignation, as the box was still extended towards him, snatched it from the hand of the robber, and flinging it across the road, said, with dignity—

"Do your worst, rascals! But if you leave me alive, you shall repent the outrage you have offered to one of his Majesty's Household!" Then, as if becoming sensible of the ridicule of affecting too much in his present situation, he added in an altered tone: "And now, for God's sake, shut the door! and if you must kill somebody, there's my servant on the box—he's paid for it."

This speech made the robbers laugh more than ever; and Lovett, who liked a joke even better