Our Mutual Friend · Book the Second · Chapter 2 12 (3/3)

“Hear me out, Captain, hear me out! All I was wishing to mention, Captain, afore you took your departer,” said the sneaking Mr. Riderhood, falling out of his path, “was, your handsome words relating to the reward.”

“When I claim it,” said the man, in a tone which seemed to leave some such words as “you dog,” very distinctly understood, “you shall share it.”

Looking steadfastly at Riderhood, he once more said in a low voice, this time with a grim sort of admiration of him as a perfect piece of evil, “What a liar you are!” and, nodding his head twice or thrice over the compliment, passed out of the shop. But, to Pleasant he said good night kindly.

The honest man who gained his living by the sweat of his brow remained in a state akin to stupefaction, until the footless glass and the unfinished bottle conveyed themselves into his mind. From his mind he conveyed them into his hands, and so conveyed the last of the wine into his stomach. When that was done, he awoke to a clear perception that Poll Parroting was solely chargeable with what had passed. Therefore, not to be remiss in his duty as a father, he threw a pair of sea-boots at Pleasant, which she ducked to avoid, and then cried, poor thing, using her hair for a pocket-handkerchief.