His dull eyes glistened; but a tremor took him from top to toe, and he shook his head.
“I'm ill, man!” I cried. “If I stay here I'll die! Mr. Rattray knows that, and he wanted me to go this morning; he'll be only too thankful to find me gone.”
This argument appealed to him; indeed, I was proud of it.
“But I was to stop an' look after you,” he mumbled; “it'll get me into trooble, it will that!”
I took out three more sovereigns; not a penny higher durst I go.
“Will five pounds repay you? No need to tell your wife it was five, you know! I should keep four of them all to myself.”
The cupidity of the little wretch was at last overcoming his abject cowardice. I could see him making up his miserable mind. And I still flatter myself that I took only safe (and really cunning) steps to precipitate the process. To offer him more money would have been madness; instead, I poured it all back into my pocket.
“All right!” I cried; “you're a greedy, cowardly, old idiot, and I'll just save my money.” And out I marched into the moonlight, very briskly, towards the lane; he was so quick to follow me that I had no fears of the blunderbuss, but quickened my step, and soon had him running at my heels.
“Stop, stop, sir! You're that hasty wi' a poor owd man.” So he whimpered as he followed me like the little cur he was.
“I'm hanged if I stop,” I answered without looking back; and had him almost in tears before I swung round on him so suddenly that he yelped with fear. “What are you bothering me for?” I blustered. “Do you want me to wring your neck?”