“Henry can do it,” said William, still with his air of lavish generosity.
“No,” said that young gentleman firmly, even pugnaciously, “I’m jolly well not goin’ to do it. You went an’ sold it an’ you can jolly well go an’ ask for it back.”
William considered this in silence. They seemed quite firm on the point. He foresaw that argument with them would be useless.
He gave a scornful laugh.
“Huh!” he said, “Afraid! That’s what you are. Afraid. Huh.... Well, I c’n tell you one person what’s not afraid of an’ ole woman in an ole black coat an’ that’s me.”
With that he swaggered up the path to the front door and rang the bell violently. After that his courage failed, and but for the critical and admiring audience clustered round the gate he would certainly have turned to flee while yet there was time.... A maid opened the door. William cleared his throat nervously and tried to express by his back and shoulders (visible to the Outlaws) a proud and imperious defiance and by his face (visible to the maid) an ingratiating humility.
“Scuse me,” he said with a politeness that was rather over done, “Scuse me ... if it’s not troublin’ you too much——”
“Now, then,” said the girl sharply, “none of your sauce.”
William in his nervousness redoubled his already exaggerated courtesy. He bared his teeth in a smile.
“Scuse me,” he said, “but a lady’s jus’ come into this house wearin’ a white elephant——”