For a moment it seemed as though the group of ruffians might take heart and fly at Molly Hayes, despite the scalding reception it was in her power to give them. But before they could fully make up their minds, the landlord and his fellows hurried up.
“What’s to do now?” demanded the worthy host, bewildered at this fresh outbreak. “Is the house never to be at rest? How, sirs,” to the men, “with your swords out—and at a woman. For shame! And you, mistress,” to the girl, “will nothing do but flourishing one of my coppers in the faces of my guests?”
“Your guests!” The girl put the vessel upon the floor, and wiped her arms with her apron. “And pretty guests they are for any one to have around about them.” She pointed to the room which she had just left. “Upon a bed there is the lieutenant, as you know, and there I sits by his side, giving him his medicine and his small bite to eat. And then open bursts the window like a thunderbolt and into the room they leaped, their swords in their hands, like a lot of robbers.”
“We’d never have bothered you if it hadn’t been for him,” and one of the men pointed at Paddy, who still stood all agrin behind the girl.
“Take shame for you, a parcel of thieves, each with a sword in his fist, all after the life of one poor boy. No wonder he jumped through the window into the room to get away from you, and small blame to him.”
But diplomatically the landlord, without any inquiries into the cause of the outbreak, soothed everybody; the result was that the men put up their weapons and grumblingly took seats at a table far down the room, while Molly Hayes and Paddy Burk disappeared into the room from which they had emerged a few moments before.
The cadaverous Master Bleekwood had regarded this scene with scornful eyes.
“The clumsy rascals,” he now said to Ben, “they have ruined their chances. I might have expected such.” He arose to his feet. “Do you,” said he, “try and quiet any suspicions which your friend may have; I will have a quiet word with these fellows of mine.”
Ben sat at the table trying to collect his thoughts which had been badly scattered by the events of the last few moments; then, more by chance than anything else, he saw the door which had closed in Paddy Burk open a trifle and a hand beckon him into the room beyond. He went to the door and passed through; Paddy Burk immediately closed it behind him.
“Why, then,” said Paddy, and his face had lost none of the grin of a short time before, “why, then, this is the great night entirely. Did you have a fair view of it all?”