“My hands are not free. I must be ready to draw up an official report. If some sorcery bursts out of that door, ought I not, on the very instant, enter it upon my verbal process?”
These reasons appeared to make some impression on the recorder.
“Little John, open that door,” said he to the lackey.
“Oh, master, I dare not,” replied Little John, getting behind the recorder.
“Do you hear me, you wretch?”
“Yes, sir, but I dare not; there is some sorcery there.”
“But, on my oath, if you—”
“If the salvation of my soul depended on it, sir, I would not open it,” said Little John, in a resolute tone.
“Come, come!” said the recorder, overcome with vexation, as he addressed the halberdiers, “it will be said, my brave fellows, that you alone acted as men in this stupid affair! Open that door, and put an end to this ridiculous scene.”
The two guards retreated a step, and one of them said: