The clerk would have offered some remonstrances to his patron on the danger of remaining alone with such a desperate character, although ironed beyond the possibility of active exertion, but Glossin waved him off impatiently. When he had left the room, the justice took two short turns through the apartment, then drew his chair opposite to the prisoner, so as to confront him fully, placed the pistols before him in readiness, and said in a steady voice, "You are Dirk Hatteraick of Flushing, are you not?" The prisoner turned his eye instinctively to the door, as if he apprehended some one was listening. Glossin rose, opened the door, so that from the chair in which his prisoner sat he might satisfy himself there was no eavesdropper within hearing, then shut it, resumed his seat, and repeated his question, "You are Dirk Hatteraick, formerly of the Yungfrauw Haagenslaapen are you not?" "Tousand deyvils!--and if you know that, why ask me?" said the prisoner. "Because I am surprised to see you in the very last place where you ought to be, if you regard your safety," observed Glossin coolly. "Der deyvil!--no man regards his own safety that speaks so to me!" "What? unarmed, and in irons!--well said, Captain!" replied Glossin ironically. "But, Captain, bullying won't do--you'll hardly get out of this country without accounting for a little accident that happened at Warroch Point a few years ago." Hatteraick's looks grew black as midnight. "For my part," continued Glossin, "I have no particular wish to be hard upon an old acquaintance--but I must do my duty--I shall send you off to Edinburgh in a post-chaise and four this very day." "Poz donner! you would not do that?" said Hatteraick,--in a lower and more humbled tone; "why, you had the matter of half a cargo in bills on Vanbeest and Vanbruggen." "It is so long since, Captain Hatteraick," answered Glossin superciliously, "that I really forget how I was recompensed for my trouble." "Your trouble? your silence, you mean." "It was an affair in the course of business," said Glossin, "and I have retired from business for some time." "Ay, but I have a notion that I could make you go steady about, and try the old course again," answered Dirk Hatteraick. "Why, man, hold me der deyvil, but I meant to visit you, and tell you something that concerns you." "Of the boy?" said Glossin eagerly. "Yaw, Mynheer," replied the Captain coolly. "He does not live, does he?" "As lifelich as you or I," said Hatteraick. "Good God!--But in India?" exclaimed Glossin. "No, tousand deyvils, here on this dirty coast of yours," rejoined the prisoner. "But, Hatteraick, this,--that is, if it be true, which I do not believe,--this will ruin us both, for he cannot but remember your neat job; and for me--it will be productive of the worst consequences. It will ruin us both, I tell you." "I tell you," said the seaman, "it will ruin none but you--for I am done up already, and if I must strap for it, all shall out."