‘He demands two hundred dollars.’
‘It shall be his freely, immediately the fellow is placed in his care, one hundred more to that, if he well perform his task, and keeps the secret inviolable.’
‘I tell you again, there is no fear of his not doing that.’
‘Then all, so far is well,’ observed Blodget.
‘It shall be so; and now we will have a glass or two together, to drink success to this undertaking.’
‘With all my heart,’ replied the captain; and taking his seat, bottles were immediately placed upon the table, and they proceeded to drink with much alacrity, toast after toast following each other in rapid succession, while the deep potations which they quaffed, took but a trifling effect upon them, so accustomed were they to habits of intemperance.
‘Perhaps,’ said Blodget, after a pause, ‘it would have been much more satisfactory had Gordon succeeded in despatching him.’
‘I like not the unnecessary shedding of human blood.’
‘Then you have never felt the sentiments that I do.’
‘You know not that; but, villain as I am, and have been from a boy, I never yet shed the blood of my fellow man, unless it was in a fight and in self defence.’