“'Look here,' cried he, at last; 'ye're an uncommon seedy lot, very much out at elbows, and so I 'll do you a generous turn. I 'll take ye all over to my cottage at Jersey for a week, house and grub you, and then turn you loose on the island, to do your wicked will with it.'
“'We take your offer—we say, Done!' cried Collins.
“'I should think you do! You've been sleeping under the colonnade of the Haymarket these last three nights,' said he to Collins, 'for want of a lodging. There's Towers chuckling over the thought of having false keys to all my locks; and Master Paul, yonder,' said he, grinning at me, 'is in love with my wife. Don't deny it, man; I broke open her writing-desk t' other day, and read all your letters to her; but I'm a generous dog; and, what's better,' added he, with an insolent laugh, 'one as bites, too—eh, Paul?—don't forget that.'
“'Do you mean the invitation to be real and bonâ fide?' growled out Towers; 'for I 'm in no jesting humor.'
“'I do,' said Hawke, flourishing out a handful of banknotes; 'there's enough here to feed five times as many blacklegs; and more costly guests a man can't have.'
“'You'll go, won't you?' said Collins, to me, as we walked home together afterwards.
“'Well,' said I, doubtingly, 'I don't exactly see my way.'
“'By Jove!' cried he, 'you are afraid of him.'
“'Not a bit,' said I, impatiently. 'I 'm well acquainted with his boastful habit: he's not so dangerous as he 'd have us to believe.'
“'But will you go?—that's the question,' said he, more eagerly.