"I will," replied Sheppard, dashing the glass from his hand. "Sit down, fool!"
"Jack," said Kneebone, who had been considerably interested by the foregoing scene, "are these regrets for your past life sincere?"
"Suppose them so," rejoined Jack, "what then?"
"Nothing—nothing," stammered Kneebone, his prudence getting the better of his sympathy. "I'm glad to hear it, that's all," he added, taking out his snuff-box, his never-failing resource in such emergencies. "It won't do to betray the officer," he muttered.
"O lud! what an exquisite box!" cried Edgeworth Bess. "Is it gold?"
"Pure gold," replied Kneebone. "It was given me by poor dear Mrs. Wood, whose loss I shall ever deplore."
"Pray, let me have a pinch!" said Edgeworth Bess, with a captivating glance. "I am so excessively fond of snuff."
The woollen-draper replied by gallantly handing her the box, which was instantly snatched from her by Blueskin, who, after helping himself to as much of its contents as he could conveniently squeeze between his thumb and finger, put it very coolly in his pocket.
The action did not pass unnoticed by Sheppard.
"Restore it," he cried, in an authoritative voice.