“You scoundrel!” cried Mr Barclay.
“Keep a civil tongue in your head, my fine fellow,” he said.
“You shall suffer for this,” retorted Mr Barclay.
“P’r’aps so. But now, listen. If you like to shout, you can do so, only I tell you the truth: no one can hear you when you’re shut in here; and if you do keep on making a noise, one of us may be tempted to come and silence you.”
“What do you want?—Money?”
“You to hold your tongue and be quiet. You behave yourself, and no harm shall come to you; but I warn you that if you attempt any games, look out, for you’ve desperate men to deal with. Now, then, will you take it coolly?”
“Tell me first what this means,” said Mr Barclay.
“I shall tell you nothing. I only say this—will you take it coolly, and do what we want?”
“I can’t help myself,” says Mr Barclay.
“That’s spoken like a sensible lad,” says the second man.—“Now, look here: you’ve got to stop for some days, perhaps, and you shall have enough to eat, and blankets to keep you warm.”