Page:Shiana - Peadar Ua Laoghaire.djvu/270

256 "What became of the thimble-man?" said Shiana.

"You have him here, stuck fast."

"You!" said Shiana.

"Me exactly, the very one," said the Black Man.

"And what were you doing at the fair?" said Shiana.

"I was doing a good many things there. For one thing, I was watching you to see if you would buy that horse. If you had bought it, the bargain would have been broken by you, and I would have had a grip of you."

"And you would have let me go!" said Shiana.

"Indeed I would not!" said the Black Man.

"Just as little notion have I of letting you go—for some time," said Shiana. "So it is just as well for you to keep quiet and have patience. I have the upper hand of you, and I will work my will upon you while I have the opportunity; the very thing you would do to me if you had the opportunity. Perhaps I might have some pity for you if it would be any use, but it would not. If I were to do anything to soften your pains now, you would pay me back for it, by-and-by, by sharpening my own pain as much as you possibly could. It is as well for us to be straight and honest in our dealings with each other. I shall do my utmost against you now, and you may do your utmost against me by-and-by, or as soon as you have the opportunity. It is all the same for me to do good or evil to you now, for any good I should get for it by-and-by. Whatever good act were done for you, you would return nothing for it but evil. Your money has done me great good for the last thirteen years. I think I have given you