"That will do. You can go."
"But the reward, your honour," began the hawker nervously.
The captain eyed him sternly.
"An I had my will with you, fellow, you should to the pillory as a thief and extortioner. But as, in this world, a rogue must be paid for his roguery, take your liberty and deem it meet reward for information which I received an hour since. Be off with you."
The hawker, with a deep, heartfelt curse, shuffled out of the room.
"I would that I had seen her braving the fellow," muttered the captain as he recharged his pipe.
So engrossed was he in his meditations that he paid no heed to a sudden clamour in the yard without, and he sprang to his feet with an oath of astonishment when the door was flung wide open, and the corporal burst violently into the room.
"We have him, captain!" he cried, almost dancing with eagerness, "we have him at last, the very fellow himself. Caught as clean as a bird in a net."
"What means this, sirrah?" interrupted the captain sharply. "Art mad, or drunk; or both together?"
The corporal's face fell. He pulled himself together and saluted in a somewhat crestfallen fashion.