Raddy displayed his teeth: it was a trick of his when feeling particularly defiant. “What’ll yer pay me?”
“Sixpence”—showing it to him. “I will give it you when you have taken the message.”
“Give it first.”
Just for a moment I hesitated in my extremity, but I knew it would be only the sixpence thrown away. Paid beforehand, Raddy would no more do the errand than he’d fly. I told him as much.
“Then be dashed if I go!” And he passed off into a round of swearing.
Good Heavens! If I should not be able to persuade him! If Charles Van Rheyn should die for want of help!
“Did you ever have anybody to care for, Raddy? Did you ever have a mother?”
“Her’s sent over the seas, her is; and I be glad on’t. Her beated me, her did: I wasn’t a-going to stand that.”
“If you ever had anybody you cared for the least bit in the world, Raddy; if you ever did anybody a good turn in all your life, you will help this poor fellow now. Come and look at him. See whether I dare leave him.”
“None o’ yer swindles! Ye wants to get me in there, ye does. I warn’t borned yesterday.”