The fate of your neck"-- he waved a hand,--"well, I have known you for just five minutes, and feel but a moderate interest in your neck.

As for the inmates of this house, it will refresh you to hear that there are none.
I have lived here two years with a butler and female cook, both of whom I dismissed yesterday at a minute's notice, for conduct which I will not shock your ears by explicitly naming.

Suffice it to say, I carried them off yesterday to my parish church, two miles away, married them and dismissed them in the vestry without characters.

I wish you had known that butler--but excuse me; with the information I have supplied, you ought to find no difficulty in fixing the price you will take to clear out of my house instanter." "Sir," I answered, "I have held a pistol at one or two heads in my time, but never at one stuffed with nobler indiscretion.

Your chivalry does not, indeed, disarm me, but prompts me to desire more of your acquaintance.