It had been agreed that O'Neil, as the senior, was to be spokesman of the party.
"Lord Godolphin," he said, "I regret that circumstances have obliged us to use force towards you, but our necessities compel us to leave the country at once, and it has appeared to us that in no way could we get away so expeditiously as with the aid of your lordship.

We will now set you free.

I must tell you, beforehand, that if you attempt to raise your voice and give the alarm, we shall be constrained to blow out your brains." Mike now released him from the bonds, and removed the gag from his mouth, but for a time the minister was incapable of speech, being choked by anger at the treatment he had met with.
"You will repent this outrage," he burst out, at last.
"I think not, sir," O'Neil said, quietly.

"At any rate, we are quite ready to take our chance of that.

In order that you may feel at ease with us, I have no hesitation in telling you who we are.
We are the three French officers who, as no doubt you have heard, yesterday escaped from Newgate, and we are anxious to get out of the country as soon as possible.