It was an act--no more, again be it said, than humanity required--and yet an act which bespoke an expectation of some return, of some correlative advantage.

It was not in the part of the mere brigand.

Something had been granted.
Something short of the utmost in the captor's power had been exacted.

He had shown that there were things he would not do.
Then might not something more be won from him?
A further delay, another point; something, no matter what, which could be turned to advantage?
With the brigand it is not possible to bargain.

But who gives a little may give more; who gives a day may give a week; who gives a week may give a month.