“Marco came in again, and quietly closed the door. Then he listened a moment.
“‘See, geentlemans,’ he said, ‘I veel not tell a false-dad. You veel die—perhaps. Perhaps you veel not.’
“‘Well,’ grunted O’Brady, ‘we could have guessed as much. Thank you for nothing. Give him another yellow boy, Brackenbury, I’ll pay you some day—perhaps.’
“The additional coin made Marco smile.
“‘Now,’ he said, ‘I tell you all de trut’. De trut’ is dis: you veel not die for two tree week. Suppose your people pay plenty libertad monies for you, den you not die at all. Suppose dey not veel pay de plenty mooch libertad monies, and suppose, instead, de coome and fight here, den you die ver’ quick indeed.’
“‘Thank you, thank you!’ cried O’Brady. ‘Give him one more yellow boy, Brackenbury.’
“‘Dash my buttons, sir,’ said Brackenbury, ‘how free you can make with other people’s cash, O’Brady!’
“Marco retired, smiling sweetly on his third yellow boy, and the two officers began to think of getting up.
“‘Ahem!’ said Brackenbury.
“‘What?’ said O’Brady.