May I inquire your next move ?" "Why ?" said I, feeling in my tail-pocket, "I carry a pistol." "Which I suppose to be damp ?" "By no means.

I carry it, as you see, in an oil-cloth case." He stooped, and laid the poker carefully in the fender.
"That is a stronger card than I possess.

I might urge that by pulling the trigger you would certainly alarm the house and the neighbourhood, and put a halter round your neck.

But it strikes me as safer to assume you capable of using a pistol with effect at three paces.

With what might happen subsequently I will not pretend to be concerned.