"Damme, now," says I, "had the jewels been in my keeping I would not have let 'em go so cheaply. Is the young gentleman in his gore?"
"No," says he curtly.
"We have all been taken by surprise and robbed," says the voice of the old gentleman tremulously. "This man—"
"Silence!" said the man in black.
"Are you there, miss?" said I to the darkness.
A small voice says,—
"Yes"—very frightened.
"Keep up your heart," said I. "We are none of us hurt, and when once this awesome ruffian—"
"I command you to be silent," said he savagely.
"Come," said I, "let us have some liberty. You have took our goods; let us have our tongues left."