“I’ve always noticed that,” says I; “truly a very noble trait.”
“Now don’t you talk like that, Miss,” says the recipient of this flattery, “for Snark’s that modest that it makes him blush up like a girl.”
“Well, Mr. Snark,” says I, to stay the tide of his loquacity and to rid myself of the embarrassment of his presence, “please let me tell you in as few words as I can what I have sent for you to do.”
It was remarkable to observe the change that then came over him. He listened to all I said with the most polite attention, his small eyes twinkling, and his wicked face keen and tense, with a concentrated interest. When I had finished he put a few sharp questions as to the status of the prisoner.
“Who is this rebel?” he began. “Important man at all? Done much? Any reppitation? Never know’d at all in the Highway or the Lane.”
“He is very young at present,” I replied, “but you will doubtless one day hear of him as Prime Minister of England. For he’s a wonderful fine fellow, and of a very alert intelligence.”
“Hum, on’y a Prime Minister!” says Mr. Snark. “But will they put him in the Calendar? And do you think he’s worth my time and trouble, Miss?”
“Why, my dear man,” says I, “I can surely make it worth your time and trouble. You have merely to name the sum.”
Herein it was that I committed an unpardonable crime.
“Pah! and pish!” he cried, and waved his hand with magnificent disdain. “Do you suppose that it is your dirty money that I’ve come for? It’s not guineas that can make a Snark, young lady, nor guineas that can command him. There’s on’y one Snark as they knows at Bow Street, and he’s not the man to interest hisself in small fry. His very last deliverance was no less than Jimmy Finch. All the world has heard o’ Bos-eyed Jimmy, but this here rebel-man o’ yours has got his name to make. An’ Jimmy’s was a job an’ all. I never seed a cleaner. Four deep o’ soldiers round the scaffle, an’ a blessed barricade. An’ James was prayin’ white as cheese, but awful full o’ pluck. An’ there, there was the topsman a-fingering the noose. By gum, Miss, it was beautiful! And when my boys had done the job, you should just a’ heard the crowd a whispering: ‘This is a bit o’ Snark’s work. Marvellous man, old Snark!’ And then you comes to Snark, Miss, and says you can make it worth his trouble! Why, Snark’s that stiff, Miss, that he wouldn’t deliver the King of England if he hadn’t the desire.”