Page:Paul Clifford Vol 3.djvu/45

Rh "Experience never enlightens the foolish!" said Tomlinson, "or you would have known, without asking, that I had put it in the very safest pocket in my coat. 'Gad, how heavy it is!"

"Well!" cried Pepper, "I can't say I wish it were lighter! Only think of our robbing my Lord twice, and on the same road too!"

"I say, Lovett," exclaimed Tomlinson, "was it not odd that we should have stumbled upon our Bath friend so unceremoniously? Lucky for us, that we are so strict in robbing in masks! He would not have thought the better of Bath company, if he had seen our faces."

Lovett, or rather Clifford, had hitherto been silent. He now turned slowly in his saddle, and said—"As it was, the poor devil was very nearly dispatched. Long Ned was making short work with him—if I had not interposed!"

"And why did you?" said Ned.

"Because I will have no killing: it is the curse of the noble art of our profession, to have passionate professors like thee."

"Passionate!" repeated Ned; "well, I am a little choleric, I own it, but that is not so great a