"What good would that do?"
"What good would it do?" repeated Pettican. "It would no longer be a shelter for Admonition and that beau Timothy. I am not going to be trifled with, I have endured too much. I Will be a man. I shouldn't mind a bit smoking them out of this snug lair."
"And what about yourself?"
"Oh, as for me, I could go to the Blue Anchor, and put up there for the rest of my days. I think I could be happy in a tavern, happier than here, and I should have the satisfaction of thinking I had shaken the weevils out of the biscuit."
Elijah started, and strode up and down the room, with head bent, and his eyes fixed on the floor. His hands were clenched and rigid at his side.
"You will tell Liddy," said the cripple, watching him.
"Smoke them out! Ha! ha! that is a fine idea!" burst forth from Elijah, with a laugh.
"You will tell Liddy," repeated Charles Pettican. "You must, you know, or I am lost. If Admonition were to return with Timothy at her heels, and were to find the flag flying, and me alone" he passed his agitated hand over his face, and his lips trembled.
"I see," said Rebow. "You would then cease to be a man."
It was late when Admonition and her cousin returned from the market. It was so dark that they did not see the flag. But as Admonition put her hand on the gate it was grasped.
"Stop," said Elijah. "A word with you."
"Who are you?" asked Mrs. Pettican in alarm, and Timothy swaggered forward to her defence.
"Never mind who I am. I have waited here some hours to warn you. Was there a girl, a handsome girl, a glorious girl, here to see that man, your husband, a month ago? You need not answer. I know there was. She is his cousin. He lent her money."
"No, he did not. I stopped that, didn't I, Tim?"
"He lent her money. You think you stopped that, but you did not. He let her have the money, twenty pounds, how I know not. She had his money, and she will have more, all, unless you keep a sharp watch on him."
