"
"But, you won't!"
"Why won't I?"
"Because it won't pay!"
"Why wouldn't it?"
"Because you couldn't do me any harm, unless you were to kill me,
and you would gain nothing by my death, except a few trinkets that
you may have without."
"Then, you are really not afraid of me?" he asked, taking another
deep draught of brandy.
"Not a bit of it--I rather like you!"
"Come, now, you're running a rig upon a fellow," said the outlaw,
winking and depositing a huge chunk of bread in his capacious jaws.
"No, indeed! I liked you, long before I ever saw you! I always did
like people that make other people's hair stand on end! Don't you
remember when you first came here disguised as a peddler, though I
did not know who you were, when we were talking of Black Donald, and
everybody was abusing him, except myself? I took his part and said
that for my part I liked Black Donald and wanted to see him."
"Sure enough, my jewel, so you did! And didn't I bravely risk my
life by throwing off my disguise to gratify your laudable wish?"
"So you did, my hero!"
"Ah, but well as you liked me, the moment you thought me in your
power didn't you leap upon my shoulders like a catamount and cling
there, shouting to all the world to come and help you, for you had
caught Black Donald and would die before you would give him up? Ah!
you little vampire, how you thirsted for my blood! And you pretended
to like me!" said Black Donald, eying her from head to foot, with a
sly leer.
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