The moonlight came in through the window and fell upon the floor, and there were no sounds that came to disturb the stillness of the scene, nor any object that moved to cast a shadow upon the floor. All was still and motionless, save the two victors, who were much distressed and bruised.
"Well!" said Jack Pringle, with a hearty execration, as he wiped his face with the back of his hand; "saving your presence, doctor, we are masters of the field, doctor; but it's plaguey like capturing an empty bandbox after a hard fight."
"But we have got the picture, Jack—we have got the picture, you see, and that is something. I am sure we saved that."
"Well, that may be; and a pretty d——d looking picture it is after all. Why, it's enough to frighten a lady into the sulks. I think it would be a very good thing if it were burned."
"Well," said the doctor, "I would sooner see it burned than in the hands of that—"
"What?" exclaimed Jack.
"I don't know," said Mr. Chillingworth; "but thief I should say, for it was somewhat thief-like to break into another man's house and carry off the furniture."
"A pirate—a regular land shark."
"Something that is not the same as an honest man, Jack; but, at all events, we have beaten him back this time."
"Yes," said Jack, "the ship's cleared; no company is better than bad company, doctor."