the future. I replied with the severity which so base a proceeding appeared to
deserve. My bear-leaders were considerably surprised with my firmness, but
seemed to think it beneath them to contest with me the principles I delivered.
He who had made the overture contented himself with replying, Well, well, my
lad, do as you will; you are not the first man that has been hanged rather than
part with a few guineas. His words did not pass unheeded by me. They were
strikingly applicable to my situation, and I was determined not to suffer the
occasion to escape me unimproved.
    The pride of these gentlemen however was too great to admit of farther
parley for the present. They left me abruptly, having first ordered an old man,
the father of the landlady, to stay in the room with me while they were absent.
The old man they ordered for security to lock the door and put the key in his
pocket, at the same time mentioning below stairs the station in which they had
left me, that the people of the house might have an eye upon what went forward,
and not suffer me to escape. What was the intention of this manoeuvre I am
unable certainly to pronounce. Probably it was a sort of compromise between
their pride and their avarice, being desirous for some reason or other to drop
me as soon as convenient, and therefore determining to wait the result of my
private meditations on the proposal they had made.
 

                                  Chapter VII

They were no sooner withdrawn than I cast my eye upon the old man, and found
something extremely venerable and interesting in his appearance. His form was
above the middle size. It indicated that his strength had once been
considerable; nor was it at this time by any means annihilated. His hair was in
considerable quantity, and was as white as the drifted snow. His complexion was
healthful and ruddy, at the same time that his face was furrowed with wrinkles.
In his eye there was remarkable vivacity, and his whole countenance was strongly
expressive of good nature. The boorishness of his rank in society was lost, in
the cultivation his mind had derived from habits of sensibility and benevolence.
    The view of his figure immediately introduced a train of ideas into my mind
respecting the advantage to be drawn from the presence of such a person. The
attempt to take any step without his consent was hopeless, for, though I should
succeed with regard to him, he could easily give the alarm to other persons who
would no doubt be within call. Add to which, I could scarcely have prevailed on
myself to offer any offence