“Where you’re bid.”
“I’ll be hanged if I will.”
“You’ll be hanged if you won’t,” the other rejoined, advancing toward him menacingly.
“Careful, Chapin!” whispered one of the others, “the kid’ll squeal in a moment, and we’ll have Bill in on us.”
“To heck with Bill! I’ll have that kid, or I’ll know the reason why!”
“Gently, Arthur dear,” murmured Carroll. “Never resort to force until persuasion is exhausted. Dear Socrates, we desire the pleasure of your company for a walk abroad. The hour is unusual, but therefore the greater is the compliment. My friend Chapin is impetuous and slightly rude, but I counsel you to accept his invitation.”
“What do you want with me?” asked Tony, stubbornly.
“Don’t ask me to repeat, I beg of you. Time presses, and the patience of my friends is on the ebb.”
“Hang your friends’ patience!” exclaimed Tony. “I won’t—”
“It will hang them, my child, if you do not come. The effort to remove you by force will cost them no end of a hanging.”