A little jolly kindness goes a long way with 'em.

_I_ had no trouble while _I_ held the town." Hamilton bit his lip and was silent.

Helm was exasperatingly good tempered, and his jocularity was irresistible.

While he was yet speaking a guard came up followed by Jean, the hunchback, and saluting said to Hamilton: "The lad wants to see the young lady, sir." Hamilton gazed quizzically at Jean, who planted himself in his habitual attitude before him and stared up into his face with the grotesque expression which seems to be characteristic of hunchbacks and unfledged birds--the look of an embodied and hideous joke.
"Well, sir, what will you have ?" the Governor demanded.
"I want to see Alice, if you please." "What for ?" "I want to give her a book to read." "Ah, indeed.

Where is it?
Let me see it." Jean took from the breast of his loose jerkin a small volume, dog-eared and mildewed, and handed it to Hamilton.