Page:Paul Clifford Vol 3.djvu/87

Rh knows you are! Come down, or let me mount, otherwise I won't be 'sponsible for the consequences!"

Clifford cast a look over his shoulder. A gleam of the grey daylight already glimmered through a chink in the secret door, which Tomlinson had now unbarred, and was about to open.

"Listen to me, Mr. Nabbem," said he, "and perhaps I may grant what you require! What would you do with me, if you had me?"

"You speaks like a sinsible man, now," answered Nabbem, "and that's after my own heart. Why, you sees, Captain, your time has come, and you can't shilly-shally any longer. You have had your full swing; your years are up, and you must die like a man! But I gives you my honour, as a gemman, that if you surrenders, I'll take you to the justice folks as tenderly as if you were made of cotton."

"Give way one moment," said Clifford, "that I may plant the steps firmer for you."

Nabbem retreated to the ground, and Clifford, who had, goodnaturedly enough, been unwilling unnecessarily to damage so valuable a functionary,