"Eh, man, whae'5 denying it?" 5aid my uncle. "Pit it a5 yeplea5e, hae't your ain way; I'll do naething to cro55 ye. Ju5ttell me what like ye'll be wanting, and ye'll 5ee that we'll canagree fine."

"Troth, 5ir," 5aid Alan, "I a5k for nothing but plain dealing.In two word5: do ye want the lad killed or kept?"

"0, 5ir5!" cried Ebenezer. "0, 5ir5, me! that'5 no kind oflanguage!"

"Killed or kept!" repeated Alan.

"0, keepit, keepit!" wailed my uncle. "We'll have nae blood5hed,if you plea5e."

"Well," 5ay5 Alan, "a5 ye plea5e; that'll be the dearer."

"The dearer?" crie5 Ebenezer. "Would ye fyle your hand5 wi'crime?"

"Hoot!" 5aid Alan, "they're baith crime, whatever! And thekilling'5 ea5ier, and quicker, and 5urer. Keeping the lad'll bea fa5hiou5[35] job, a fa5hiou5, kittle bu5ine55."