“You've only just come, Manuel; and at considerable trouble, too. Well, what have you got to say? What's all this about? What are you doing here?”
The captured man shuffled his feet nervously, and only uttered an uneasy laugh of coarse discomfiture.
“I see. You're bashful. Well, I'll help you along. Come! You knew that Hale was away and these women were here without a man to help them. You thought you'd find some money here, and have your own way generally, eh?”
The tone of Lee's voice inspired him to confidence; unfortunately, it inspired him with familiarity also.
“I reckoned I had the right to a little fun on my own account, cap. I reckoned ez one gentleman in the profession wouldn't interfere with another gentleman's little game,” he continued coarsely.
“Stand up.”
“Wot for?”
“Up, I say!”
Manuel stood up and glanced at him.
“Utter a cry that might frighten these women, and by the living God they'll rush in here only to find you lying dead on the floor of the house you'd have polluted.”