"Yes, it will serve.

Now the superscription." And he returned the paper.
Ashburn was himself again by now.

He realized the advantage he had gained, and he would not easily relinquish it.
"I shall add the superscription," said he calmly, "when you swear to depart without further molesting us." Crispin paused a moment, weighing the position well in his mind.

If Joseph lied to him now, he would find means to return, he told himself, and so he took the oath demanded.
Joseph dipped his pen, and paused meditatively to watch a drop of ink, wherewith it was overladen, fall back into the horn.

The briefest of pauses was it, yet it was not the accident it appeared to be.