His reply was calm, however, and his mind grew
more at ease, more collected, with his growing consciousness of
annoyance and danger. He answered the stranger in a vein not unlike his
own.
"You are pleased to be eloquent, worthy sir--and, on any other occasion,
I might not be unwilling to bestow my ear upon you; but as I have yet to
find my way out of this labyrinth, for the use of which your
facetiousness would have me pay a tax, I must forego that satisfaction,
and leave the enjoyment for some better day."
"You are well bred, I see, young sir," was the reply, "and this forms an
additional reason why I should not desire so soon to break our
acquaintance. If you have mistaken your road, what do you on this?--why
are you in this part of the country, which is many miles removed from
any public thoroughfare?"
"By what right do you ask the question?" was the hurried and
unhesitating response. "You are impertinent!"
"Softly, softly, young sir. Be not rash, and let me recommend that you
be more choice in the adoption of your epithets.
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