“You could. Perhaps you will. Let justice be done.”
Pitman raised his eyes to the heavens. Why, O Lord, why? “We will wait a little longer, for the chase to die away. And then you will take me to this cellar. Only then will I decide your fate.” He reached into his cloak and pulled out manacles. “But you and I will be joined by these, Captain. I do not ask for your pledge. What man would not escape the noose if he could, despite the giving of his oath? But I’m damned if I am doing any more running this day. I’m too old for it, by heaven.”
“As am I.” Coke sniffed. “Though I hope we may leave soon. These cat skins may have been tanned, but how they reek!”
“They do. It is strange, is it not, what they say? That there are many ways to skin a cat. I can think of only one.” He spun one of the
