“Ha! ha!” laughed Captain Jack. “So Mr. Redgill has turned religious all at once, eh? Very good. Ha! ha! it’s time he did something of the kind. Get you gone, and don’t let me catch you talking to the prisoner any more. Do you understand me? If you do, you shall be dismissed.” “But, captain, I have done no wrong; no offence was meant. You know I have been gaoler here more than twenty years, and a steadier, a soberer, or a honester man never was than myself, though I say it.” “I dare say,” Captain Jack replied, with a grin. “All men are honest till they’re found out; I’m a real saint myself. Ha! ha! Then leave us, I wish to speak to the prisoner alone. Get you gone, turnkey!” The gaoler left. Captain Jack and Phillip Redgill were now alone, The captain took a seat on the edge of the table, and looked at Phillip much like a wild beast who has got his prey firmly in its clutches. Neither spoke for some time. Phillip’s eyes glowed with rage, but he spoke not a syllable for some time. Captain Jack amused himself with whistling and playing with a pistol. “May I ask what you want with me?” Phillip began, at length, endeavouring to suppress the rage he felt. “Me want with you?” said Jack. “Oh! I really beg pardon for intruding—ha! ha! but I thought you might want to see me, that’s all.” As he spoke he smiled like a demon. “You have acted the knave towards me, Captain Jack.” “Have I, though? How complimentary you are!” “Yes, you have, Captain Jack; you have acted like a black-hearted scoundrel!” “Go on, go on, I am listening; you can’t hurt anybody with your tongue; you are bound too fast to the stone floor to do much harm.” “Am I?” “Yes, of course you are but go on—I want to hear all you’ve got to say.” “Why did you take my money, and then arrest me?” “Because I wanted the cash; and, in the next place, I wished to save my own neck. Colonel Blood swore to hang one or the other, so I thought you might do better than myself, you perceive.” “But suppose I were to tell Colonel Blood what I have done for you?” “He wouldn’t believe you, that’s all.” “I don’t know that.” “But I do, though. If I had not thought and known so, I shouldn’t have captured you alive.” “What then?” “Why, would have so arranged it that you would have been a dead man, that’s all.” “And did you mean that all along?” “Of course I did.” For some time neither spoke, but looked at each other occasionally with an expression of fierce brutality in their eyes. At last, Phillip said: “Suppose I disprove all your charges and accusations—what then?” “Oh, but you can’t.” “Can’t?” “No—impossible.” “But if I get witnesses to swear to my innocence?” “Why, then, I’ll so manage it as to have two witnesses to your one to swear quite the contrary.” “You are a villain, Captain Jack!” “Lor’ bless you! Didn’t you know it before? I’m called that name every day—I’m quite used to it now.” “Tell the truth, Captain Jack—What did you come here for?”