"I understand your feelings well enough, Moneylaws--and I'm a man of sentiment, so I'll tell you at once that the lass is safe enough, and there's not as much harm come to her as you could put on a sixpence--so there! But--I'm not sure yet that you're safe yourself," he went on, still eyeing me consideringly.

"I'm a soft-hearted man, Moneylaws--or else you wouldn't have your brains in their place at this present minute!" "There's a mighty lot of chance of my harming you, anyway!" said I, with a laugh that surprised myself.

"Not so much as a penknife on me, and you with that thing at my head." "Aye!--but you've got a tongue in that head," said he.

"And you might be using it! But come, now--I'm loth to harm you, and you'd best tell me a bit more.

What's the police doing ?" "What police do you mean ?" I inquired.
"Here, there, everywhere, anywhere!" he exclaimed.