"Hans and Jorgan,
is your captive safe? Good. Bring him forth." He turned to his
invisible band. "To your quarters, varlets! I would confer alone with
the usurious"--he rolled the satisfying word finely off his
tongue--"rogue."
Hand on hip he sat, and watched his merry figments dismount and lead
away their horses.
He turned, and frowned splendidly on the prisoner. "What think ye of
our hospitality, Lambert of London?" he said.
Mr. Lambert scowled; his emotion was too deep for words.
Suddenly Tinker dropped the robber baron, and became his frank and
engaging self: "I'm sorry to be so late," he said with a charming air
of apology, "but I had to send a message to Tullispaith to say that you
would not be back till Saturday, or perhaps Monday."
"What!" screamed Mr. Lambert. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I didn't want them to hunt for you. I'm going to keep you here
till you do what I want," said Tinker with a seraphic smile.
"You young rascal! You mean to try and keep me here!" screamed Mr.
Lambert, jumping about in a light, but ungainly fashion. "Oh, I'll
teach you! I'll make you repent this till your dying day! You think
you can keep me here! You shall see. The first shepherd, the first
keeper who passes will let me out.
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