"If I stay here I'll die! Mr.Rattray knows that, and he wanted me to go this morning; he'll be only too thankful to find me gone." This argument appealed to him; indeed, I was proud of it.
"But I was to stop an' look after you," he mumbled; "it'll get me into trooble, it will that!" I took out three more sovereigns; not a penny higher durst I go.
"Will five pounds repay you?
No need to tell your wife it was five, you know! I should keep four of them all to myself." The cupidity of the little wretch was at last overcoming his abject cowardice.

I could see him making up his miserable mind.

And I still flatter myself that I took only safe (and really cunning) steps to precipitate the process.

To offer him more money would have been madness; instead, I poured it all back into my pocket.
"All right!" I cried; "you're a greedy, cowardly, old idiot, and I'll just save my money." And out I marched into the moonlight, very briskly, towards the lane; he was so quick to follow me that I had no fears of the blunderbuss, but quickened my step, and soon had him running at my heels.
"Stop, stop, sir! You're that hasty wi' a poor owd man." So he whimpered as he followed me like the little cur he was.
"I'm hanged if I stop," I answered without looking back; and had him almost in tears before I swung round on him so suddenly that he yelped with fear.

"What are you bothering me for ?" I blustered.