"
"Sir!" replied Dymock, "Sir! do you give me the lie?--direct or
indirect, I will not bear it; I, a son of the house of Dymock, to be
thus bearded in my own Tower, to be told that what I choose to assert
may not be true; that I am, in fact, a deceiver,--a sharper,--one that
would prevaricate for sordid pelf!" What more the worthy man added, our
history does not say, but that he added much cannot be disputed, and
that he poured forth in high and honourable indignation, many
sentiments which would have done credit both to the gentleman and the
Christian.
[Illustration: See Page 123]
In the meantime the old man had drawn a huge bunch of keys from his
pocket, and had deliberately opened the trunk before mentioned, at the
top of which were sundry yellow canvass bags of specie; he next fitted a
pair of spectacles on his nose, and then raising the cover of the table,
he drew out a drawer containing a pair of scales, and began to weigh his
guineas, as if to make a show of that of which he had none,--honesty;
and the Laird having spent his indignation, was become quiet, and stood
looking on, in a somewhat indolent and slouching attitude, making no
question but that his honourable reasonings had prevailed, and that Mr.
Salmon was about, without further hesitation, to pay him the five
hundred and ninety-four pounds, ten shillings, and sixpence, which were
his just due.
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