Rogue Riderhood was soon roused, and soon undrew the bolt and let him in.

“Why, t’otherest, I thought you had been and got lost! Two nights away! I a’most believed as you’d giv’ me the slip, and I had as good as half a mind for to advertise you in the newspapers to come for’ard.”

Bradley’s face turned so dark on this hint, that Riderhood deemed it expedient to soften it into a compliment.

“But not you, governor, not you,” he went on, stolidly shaking his head. “For what did I say to myself arter having amused myself with that there stretch of a comic idea, as a sort of a playful game? Why, I says to myself; ‘He’s a man o’ honour.’ That’s what I says to myself. ‘He’s a man o’ double honour.’ ”

Very remarkably, Riderhood put no question to him. He had looked at him on opening the door, and he now looked at him again (stealthily this time), and the result of his looking was, that he asked him no question.