In truth, he despised the man with whom he nevertheless spent a considerable part of his time. There was a community of vice between them, but Luke was by nature refined and Stephen coarse.
"You wouldn't expect me to take the young puppy's place and work for them, would you?" demanded Stephen.
"If I had a mother and sister, I would do just that," said Denton; and he spoke with sincerity, for, with all his want of principle, he was not without domestic affection.
"You wouldn't if you had folks like mine," said Stephen. "They don't care a pinch of snuff for me."
"Strange, when you are so attractive--have such taking ways," said Luke, ironically.
"Don't talk that way, Luke Denton, for I don't like it," returned Stephen, sullenly.
"You must let me have my little joke, Stephen. What would the world be without innocent mirth and friendly banter? So you like my plan?"
"Yes; but can you do it? Can you play the Quaker?"
Stephen went off into a fit of laughter, though there didn't seem much to laugh at.
"Don't be frivolous. Restrain thy mirth, and fix thy mind on serious things," continued Luke, in a tone which he thought befitting the words.
Again Stephen betrayed symptoms of suffocation.
He went out with Denton, and assisted in dressing him in the costume which he hired for the successful personation of a quiet Friend.
"You'll do," he said, in high satisfaction.
"Oh, you're too funny for anything! Shall I go with you to the depot?"
"Not for a hundred dollars! It would destroy my reputation as a grave and upright Quaker to be seen in such disreputable company. I will go my ways alone, friend Stephen, but anon I will return and favor thee with a report of my success. If I don't fail, that young brother of yours will spend the night at the station-house."
"When he is tried I'll go and see it. It'll be nuts to me to see the young sneak tried for theft."
"I'll do my best to carry out your kind wishes for his welfare."
So Luke Denton set out on his errand, and we already know how he fared--how into the pit which he dug for another he fell himself. It was he and not Paul that spent the night in confinement.
Stephen waited impatiently for his return. He was eager to hear the details of the scheme, which he did not doubt would turn out as he wished. He wanted to hear how Paul acted when confronted with the charge of theft, and was impatient to have the afternoon pass away and Denton return.