so ye needn't pretend
‘ Well, well,’ replied Alan,‘ and now how much will ye pay for us to keep him? First I need to know how much ye paid Hoseason to kidnap the lad.How much was it?’
‘Hoseason? Kidnap? What are ye talking about, man?’ screamed my uncle, jumping up and down on the doorstep.
so ye needn't pretend
‘Hoseason himself has told me about it,’ said Alan calmly,‘so ye needn't pretend.Just answer the question,or ye'll find my sword in your stomach!’
‘Don't get angry!’ cried my uncle.‘I gave him twenty pounds, that's all. But to be honest with ye—he was going to sell the lad as a slave, and keep that money,ye see.’
so ye needn't pretend
‘ Thankyou, Mr Thomson,that's excellent,’ saidthe lawyer,stepping forward.‘Good evening,Mr Balfour,’
he said politely to the old man .