“Why? It is true he may break his word in that case, but no man should do so; for then no rogue will venture to bring home anything that is stolen, and so he would do an injury to others after him.”
“I durst pawn my life for him, he would scorn it.”
Thus far they discoursed of it, and then went off to something else. I heard it all, but did not know what to do a great while; but at last, watching the gentleman that went away, when he was gone I ran after him to have spoken to him, intending to have broke it to him, but he went hastily into a room or two full of people at the hither end of the long-room; and when I went to follow, the doorkeepers turned me back, and told me I must not go in there; so I went back, and loitered about near the man that sat behind the board, and hung about there till I found the clock struck twelve, and the room began to be thin of people; and at last he sat there writing, but nobody stood at the board before him, as there had all the rest of the morning. Then I came a little nearer, and stood close to the board, as I did before; when, looking up from his paper, and seeing me, says he to me, “You have been up and down here all this morning, sirrah! What do you want? You have some business that is not very good, I doubt.”
“No, I han’t,” said I.
“No? It is well if you han’t,” says he. “Pray, what business can you have in the long-room, sir? You are no merchant.”
“I would speak with you,” said I.
“With me!” says he. “What have you to say to me?”
“I have something to say,” said I, “if you will do me no harm for it.”
“I do thee harm, child! What harm should I do thee?” and spoke very kindly.
“Won’t you indeed, sir?” said I.