Say you do, young man,' whined the
miserable creature, with an imploring gesture towards Barnaby, 'or I
shall go mad!'
'Better be mad than sane, here,' said Hugh. 'GO mad.'
'But tell me what you think. Somebody tell me what he thinks!' cried
the wretched object,--so mean, and wretched, and despicable, that even
Pity's self might have turned away, at sight of such a being in the
likeness of a man--'isn't there a chance for me,--isn't there a good
chance for me? Isn't it likely they may be doing this to frighten me?
Don't you think it is? Oh!' he almost shrieked, as he wrung his hands,
'won't anybody give me comfort!'
'You ought to be the best, instead of the worst,' said Hugh, stopping
before him. 'Ha, ha, ha! See the hangman, when it comes home to him!'
'You don't know what it is,' cried Dennis, actually writhing as he
spoke: 'I do. That I should come to be worked off! I! I! That I should
come!'
'And why not?' said Hugh, as he thrust back his matted hair to get a
better view of his late associate. 'How often, before I knew your trade,
did I hear you talking of this as if it was a treat?'
'I an't unconsistent,' screamed the miserable creature; 'I'd talk so
again, if I was hangman.
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