"
"On my honor," said Jack, "this is the first I knew of it. I never
saw or heard of you before I came into this house."
"Could Peg be mistaken?" thought Foley. "But no, no; he is only
trying to deceive me. I am too old a bird to be caught with such
chaff."
"Of course, I won't dispute your word, my young friend," he said,
softly; "but there is one tiling certain; if you didn't know it
before you know it now."
"And you are afraid that I shall denounce you to the police."
"Well, there is a possibility of that. That class of people have a
little prejudice against us, though we are only doing what everybody
wants to do, _making money_."
The old man chuckled and rubbed his hands at this joke, which he
evidently considered a remarkably good one.
Jack reflected a moment.
"Will you let me go if I will promise to keep your secret?" he
asked.
"How could I be sure you would do it?"
"I would pledge my word."
"Your word!" Foley snapped his fingers in derision. "That is not
sufficient."
"What will be?"
"You must become one of us."
"One of you!"
Jack started in surprise at a proposition so unexpected.
"Yes. You must make yourself liable to the same penalties, so that
it will be for your own interest to keep silent. Otherwise we cannot
trust you."
"And suppose I decline these terms," said Jack.
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