Again a long silence followed, which Willie MacDougald broke by saying, "Please, sir, it was to-day you was to pay me."
"Ah, yes,"
I heard a clinking sound as if money were changing hands; then Willie MacDougald said, "Thank you, sir," and turned the latch.
As he left the stateroom I could not forbear from sticking my head out of the blankets to look after him. He was so small, so young, seemingly so innocent! Yet for all his innocence and high voice and respectful phrases, he had revealed a devilish spirit of hard bargaining by the tone and manner, if not the words, with which he demanded his pay; and I was confounded when, as I looked after him, he turned, met my eyes, and instead of being disconcerted, gave me a bold, impudent grimace.
"He is a little devil," Arnold said with a smile.
"Do you believe what he tells you?"
"Yes, he does not dare lie to me."
"But," said I, "what of his story that they intend to get rid of us?"
Arnold smiled again. "I shall put it to good use."