I says:
"I know what you'll say. You'll say it's dirty, lowdown
business; but what if it is? I'm low down; and
I'm a-going to
steal him, and I want you keep mum
and not let on. Will you?"
His eye lit up, and he says:
"I'll HELP you steal him!"
Well, I let go all holts then, like I was shot. It
was the most astonishing speech I ever heard - and
I'm bound to say Tom Sawyer fell considerable in my
estimation.