"D——n me if I know!"
"Nonsense, man!" the Colonel said sharply. "I'll not hear such words."
"But why separate us, your honour?" Bale pleaded. "Not for good, I swear. No, not for good!"
"For your greater safety, I hope."
"Oh, ay, I understand that! But what of your honour's?"
"I have explained to you," the Colonel said patiently, "why I am safe here."
"For my part, and that's flat, I hate their soft sawder!" the man burst out. "It's everything to please you while they sharpen the pike to stick in your back. If old Oliver, that was a countryman of my own, and bred not so far off, had dealt with a few more of the rogues——"
"Hush!" Colonel John cried sternly. "And, for my sake, keep your tongue between your teeth. Have done with such talk, or you'll not be safe, go or stay; Be more prudent, man!"
"It's my belief I'll never see your honour again!" the man cried, with passion. "That's my belief! That's my belief and you'll not stir it."
"We've parted before in worse hap," Colonel John answered, "and come together again. And, please God, we'll do the same this time."