“More easily than to be worsted by a jade, ma’am!” he retorted, stretching his long legs out before him, and crossing his ankles. “You will find it very inconvenient to keep me in you cellar indefinitely, I imagine, but I must warn you that I have not the smallest intention of leaving it, except upon my terms.”
“But you cannot let the race go like that!” cried Deb aghast.
“Oh, have you backed me to win?” he said mockingly. “Which is much the worse for you, my girl!”
“No, I have not, and I do not care if you win or lose!” so Deborah. “There is nothing that you can do that I care for the least, for I find you beneath contempt! But this is foolish and you know it!”
“I can see that it is very inconvenient folly,” he agreed maddeningly cool.
She stamped her foot. “You will have the whole town sneering at you!”
“I will bear that for the pleasure of seeing you in Bridewell.”
“You will not see me in Bridewell!” she retorted. “Do not imagine that I did not take that into account when I had you kidnapped! You may be poltroon enough to threaten a female with ruin, but you are a great deal too stiff-necked to admit to the world that you were done-up by a female, and locked him a cellar, and kept there by her!”
“How well you think you know me!” said Ravenscar.
She checked the hot words that rose to her tongue, and picked up the branch of candles. “I will leave you to reflect,” she said coldly. “When you have thought the matter over, you will no doubt see it in another light.”