"At least you will allow me to procure Christian burial for my poor brother?"
"It is impossible," said old Bill; "by the rules of this band he must be buried here, with all our rites. You must forget you had a brother; he will sleep as soundly here as in a marble tomb."
"By what right do you deny me my proper power? Surely it rests with me to inter my own brother."
"I know not by what right saving the right of might. You are not lord here, but I am."
"But, my fine fellow, I will soon assert my power; let me once get free from this accursed nest of robbers, and—"
"But you will not get free, my Lord, till you have solemnly sworn you will never divulge our hiding place, nor strive to find it out."
"Your terms are hard, yet I have no resource but to submit to numbers, though I dare try you all had I fair play one by one."
"You will not be put to the test, but, after you have taken the oath, will leave as you came, and need only think of all this as a wild dream. Your brothers need not trouble you; one is dead, and will be buried with due pomp; the other is an outcast even from outcasts, and will know better than to show his face in these quarters."
"You said my brother, as I must call Edward L'Estrange, married. Had he any family? For if he had, it would seriously affect my position. As it is, I must take the highest legal advice, and see if this is all reliable evidence."
"You need not fear about your title or possessions; no son of Edward L'Estrange's will ever trouble you."