“‘Come, don’t play the fool!’ he said coaxingly, ‘The fact is, I expected a letter from a friend, and as it was very important I came to get it. It’s all right.’
“‘You may think so,’ said Waterford; ‘you may think it’s all right to come here on tiptoe at midnight with a false key, and steal, but other people may differ from you, that’s all! Besides, you’re telling a lie; the letter you’ve got in your pocket doesn’t belong to you!’
“It was rather a rash challenge, but we could see by the way his face fell it was a good shot.
“He uttered an oath, and advanced threateningly towards the door.
“‘Sit down,’ said Waterford, ‘unless you want to be tied up. There are two of us here, and we’re not going to stand any nonsense, I can tell you!’
“‘You’ve no right—’
“‘Sit down, and shut up!’ repeated Waterford.
“‘I tell you if you—’
“‘Cruden, you’ll find some cord in one of those drawers. If you don’t shut up, and sit down, Durfy, we shall make you.’
“He caved in after that, and I was rather glad we hadn’t to go to extremes.