“No temptation; an act of friendship on the part of your friends. And your friends are working for your good.”
“Pwhat av they bring th’ spalpane that did it before me?”
“You must fail to recognize him. That is easy. You might say you never saw him before. You might call attention to the fact that you are an officer who could handle such a boy with one hand. You might become indignant to think that anybody fancied such a boy could do you up.”
“It’s a good schame; but Oi’m not sure this ain’t a thrap.”
Frank saw that he must allay O’Farrel’s suspicions, and he talked his prettiest. When he made the effort, Frank could be extremely suave and persuasive. Never in his life was he more persuasive than just at that time. Occasionally he would flourish the bright, new bills before O’Farrel’s eyes.
At last the officer succumbed. He took the money, and then Frank snapped out a little book, saying:
“Sign here, Mr. O’Farrel.”
“Soign! Soign pwhat?”
“Your name.”
“Th’ divvil Oi will! Ye don’t catch me thot way! Whoy should Oi sign me name, Oi dunno?”