there. I didn't mean to be a bad or hard man; I didn't indeed.

_W. J_. Well, I must say if you meant to be anything else, you botched
the job! But I suppose, in fact, you didn't mean anything at all.--So
much the worse for you. (_Aside_: I must do a little cat and mouse with
him).

_C. N_. Oh, spare me, spare me! I'll work so hard for you. Keep it
dark as to who I am. It will be such an advantage you're having me all
to yourself.

_W. J_. Would it, indeed? Well, I doubt that.

_C. N_. Oh, I think so. I really am a good lawyer.

_W. J_. H'm, that would be rather less useful than a dead jackass--unless
one came to the conclusion of making cat's meat of you.

_C. N_. (_aside_, Oh, I'm sick at heart at his hinted threats). Mr.
Socialist, don't you see I could put you up to all sorts of dodges by
which you could get hold of odds and ends of property--as I suppose you
have some sort of property still--and the titles of the land must be very
shaky just after a revolution? I tell you I could put you up to things
which would make you a person of great importance; as good as what a lord
used to be.

_W. J_. (_aside_, Oh, you old blackguard! What's bred in the bone won't
come out of the flesh. I really must frighten the old coward a little;
besides, the council _has_ got to settle what's to be done with him, or
the old idiot will put us to shame by dying on our hands of fright and