Page:Paul Clifford Vol 3.djvu/134

126 all very well, Mr. Nabbem, but I'll go to the crap like a gentleman, and not peach of my comrades; and now I think of it, Lovett could scarcely have assisted us. One man alone, even Lovett, clever as he is, could not have forced us out of the clutches of you and your myrmidons, Mr. Nabbem! And when we were once at, they took excellent care of us.—But tell me now, my dear Nabbem," and Long Ned's voice wheedled itself into something like softness;—"tell me, do you think the Grazier will buff it home?"

"No doubt of that," said the unmoved Nabbem. Long Ned's face fell. "And what if he does?" said he; "they can but transport us!"

"Don't desave yourself, Master Pepper!" said Nabbem: "you're too old a hand for the herring pond. They're resolved to make gallows apples of all such Numprels (Nonpareils) as you!"

Ned cast a sullen look at the officer.

"A pretty comforter you are!" said he. "I have been in a postchaise with a pleasanter fellow, I'll swear! You may call me an apple if you will, but, I take it, I am not an apple you'd like to see peeled."