“And although I’m going to let you go this time, if I see either of you here again you’ll make a bee-line for the Tombs.”
“Don’t worry, mister—if we get off this time we’ll make ourselves scarce. It gives me a chill to think of Sing Sing.”
“You ought to get the chill before you start on such an expedition, and not after you are caught. You know that when ‘the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be; but when the devil got well, the devil a monk was he’.”
“Yes—pass out the front door, gentlemen, just as you came in. And, remember, once goes a long way with me—if you show up here again, down you go to Centre Street.”
“Thank ye, boss.”
The men crept quickly away—indeed, their haste was really ludicrous, for they seemed to have a deep-rooted fear lest he might be tempted to change his mind.
But under the circumstances Eric was quite satisfied to see them safely off the premises.
His other work would take up his attention, and he could not expect to amuse himself with such side-shows as these.
He once more made his way to the street.