‘Why,’ returned Blodget, ‘in the first place, the sudden shock might be attended with fatal consequences to her; and in the next, I think it would be better to break it out to her by degrees, and make the circumstance subservient to my designs upon her.’
‘That is my opinion,’ remarked Jenkins, ‘but you are a fool, Blodget, to delay the indulgence of your desires so long, when you have it in your power to gratify them immediately. If you wait until you prevail upon the lady to consent, I think you will be likely to tarry a long while.’
‘That is your opinion?’
‘It is.’
‘Mine is a different one.’
‘You must have a very high opinion of your powers of captivation, if that is really your belief,’ returned Jenkins.
‘Perhaps so,’ said Blodget, ‘but time will show; and now that I have the prospect of getting this fellow into my power, I am the more disposed to wait patiently and give my plans a fair trial.’
‘And wait until de Castro or his friends discover the retreat of the lady, force her from your power, and bring you to punishment,’ rejoined Jenkins.
‘If Gordon is successful, there will be no fear of that.’
‘Maybe so; but you remember the old proverb—“a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.”’