itintwopieces,andthrowitunderthegrate.Hemadeaheadlongrushatme,whichIevaded,andsaid—
“Touchme,andI’llhaveyouupbeforethenearestmagistrate.”
MenlikeCrimsworth,iffirmlyandcalmlyresisted,alwaysabatesomethingoftheirexorbitantinsolencehehadnomindtobebroughtbeforeamagistrate,andIsupposehesawImeantwhatIsaid.Afteranoddandlongstareatme,atoncebull-likeandamazed,heseemedtobethinkhimselfthat,afterall,hismoneygavehimsufficientsuperiorityoverabeggarlikeme,andthathehadinhishandsasurerandmoredignifiedmodeofrevengethanthesomewhathazardousoneofpersonalchastisement.
“Takeyourhat,”saidhe.“Takewhatbelongstoyou,andgooutatthatdoorgetawaytoyourparish,youpauper:beg,steal,starve,gettransported,dowhatyoulikebutatyourperilventureagainintomysight!IfeverIhearofyoursettingfootonaninchofgroundbelongingtome,I’llhireamantocaneyou.”
“Itisnotlikelyyou’llhavethechanceonceoffyourpremises,whattemptationcanIhavetoreturntothem?Ileaveaprison,IleaveatyrantIleavewhatisworsethantheworstthatcanliebeforeme,sonofearofmycomingback.”
“Go,orI’llmakeyou!”exclaimedCrimsworth.
Iwalkeddeliberatelytomydesk,tookoutsuchofitscontentsasweremyownproperty,puttheminmypocket,lockedthedesk,andplacedthekeyonthetop.
“Whatareyouabstractingfromthatdesk?”demandedthemillowner.“Leaveallbehindinitsplace,orI’llsendforapolicemantosearchyou.”
“Looksharpaboutit,then,”saidI,andItookdownmyhat,drewonmygloves,andwalkedleisurelyoutofthecounting-house—walkedoutofittoenteritnomore.
Irecollectthatwhenthemill-bellrangthedinnerhour,beforeMr.Crimsworthentered,andthesceneaboverelatedtookplace,Ihadhadratherasharpappetite,andhadbeenwaitingsomewhatimpatientlytohearthesignaloffeedingtime.Iforgotitnow,howevertheimagesofpotatoesandroastmuttonwereeffacedfrommymindbythest