He has one advantage over most knaves, that he is
not only a knave of the first water, but he is sometimes
a fool, too. If it were only decent and right to take
him into Downing's saloon, and give him just one more
glass of whiskey than the blackguard would care to pay
for, I could get at his whole story."
"But, Tom, I thought you were so sure the Navy had
the papers!"
"Well! well!" said Tom, a little annoyed, as eager
people are when other eager people remember their words
against them. "I was sure--I was wholly sure--till I
left Eben Ricketts. But after that--well, of course, we
ought to pull every string."
"Tom!" This with a terrible gulp.
"Tom, you don't think I ought to speak with him!"
"Matty!"
"Why, Tom, yes; if he does know--if he is holding
this up in terror, Tom, I could make him do what I chose
once, Tom. You don't think I ought to try?"
"Matty, if you ever speak to that snake again, I will
thrash him within an inch of his life, and I will never
say a word to you as long as you live."
"That's my dear Tom!" And, hidden as they were, and
crying as she was under her veil, she flung her arms
around him and kissed him.
"All the same," said Tom, after he had kissed her
again and again,--"all the same, I shall find out, after
church, where the snake is staying. I shall go to the
hotel and take a cigar.
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