"Sir," said he, taking up the weapons, "you won't let me go, then?"
"Are they loaded, Joseph?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are they cocked?"
"No, sir."
"Which is just as well, Joseph. With your hands shaking like that you might have had the misfortune to shoot me and be infallibly hanged for a deplorable accident."
Joseph's eyes flickered and he stood, still grasping a pistol in either hand.
"Sir," said he thickly, "do you mean to let me go—yes or no?"
"Hanged, Joseph, for—knowing you as I do, Reptile, I am leaving behind me a letter to the effect that should I meet with any sudden or untoward misfortune on my journey, a knife in the back, say, or a bullet, Joseph, justice may be done on the body of one Joseph Appleby, alias Galloping Nick, already wanted for the murder of——"
The weapons thudded to the floor and Joseph cowered.