“You have said the word, me boy,” rejoined the detective. “Help yerselves to anny you like, they bein’ as like as four peas, and pass one on to Ollie at the wheel, and tell the lad be careful of it. Here’s the fourth and lasht for me; and I trust it means the same as a slice of bread.”
“Slice of bread! How’s that?” asked Hank.
“Did ye never hear now the great impartance of takin’ the lasht slice uf bread on the plate? No? Dear, dear, how neglected ye’ve been! Ye’ve only to take the lasht slice of bread and ye are sure of a handsome wife. It’s a thrue sayin’ at that, because I could have had a handsome wife—yes, and a dozen of ’em—if only they would have consinted to marry me. It niver, niver fails! I’m a strong belaver in signs. I have missed havin’ many and many a million dollars just by neglectin’ to say, ‘Money-money-money-wisht-I-had-a-million-dollars’ when I saw a fallin’ star. Else I’d be rich now!” O’Brien sighed and regarded the young men with eyes that twinkled. “Just where are we?” he asked after a slight pause.
The men told him.
“Good!” exclaimed O’Brien. “Dawn or thereabout will see us off the white cliffs of England; and I’ve not seen Ireland for a dozen years. ’Twill be a small hop across the continent of Europe after we see the cliffs, and then we are due a vacation, I’m thinkin’.”
All at once O’Brien’s face changed.
“Boys, ye see the welts here and here?” he pointed to his face.
Bill and Hank felt a pleasurable shiver travel up and down their spines.
“Yes,” they said together.
“Good!” said O’Brien. “They belong in another story quite. What I am tellin’ you is this. I picked you back there because I think you are two bould lads wit’ no fear in ye, havin’ seen you do stunts of all sorts aloft and below; so if you think I have let you in for danger, take it that it was meant as a true tribute to your manhood.”