wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "We are too nervous to run, and our knees keep knocking together. Ask him if he won't let us off easier than that. There's not one of us who would think of coming back here. Never—never—never!"
He was in such a state that Barty actually began to feel sorry for him. He turned and spoke to the lion.
"How would it do," he inquired, "if they stopped being robbers and were something nicer instead—bakers or hair dressers or pew openers?"
"We will! We will! We will!" shouted out the robbers.
"I never wanted to be a robber," sobbed the captain. "I always wanted to be a toy-shop man. I'm fond of toys.