The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 88: what you’re looking at

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74 THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. additional weapons. He found a clasp-knife, which he took away from the man; and then he demanded, “ How did you get hold of the keys with which you were going to open that desk?” ‘““'Whoever you are,” said Gaffney, without answering the question, “I could make it better worth your while to help me than to go against me. ” “How so?” asked Stephen Ashborne, with a certain sensation of curiosity. “ Perhaps you think I’ve come to rob the house——” “Tt looks uncominorlly like i” “Well then, it’s tiothing of the sort, " pursed Gaffney. “I only #atit a certain ‘packet of papers, and, though ott tay be su ie tp learn what Tin goitig to tell you, it’s thé tiut that I was coming hete to get thé paptrs with the consent of Squire Poiisford hitnge fi “A likély story !” ejaculated Stephen _Agh- borne. “But wii hae did you meat Bi saying you could make it worth my while to Hél you 2” ‘First tell me who you ate,” 84 id Gaffney; ‘“¢ Every ody’ q prict is accordin ng to his position:” “Well; F am a. fartii-bailiif,’ replied Stepliéd. « And now what have you to Propose ?” “ Just you go off to bed an ledve me to follow up my own ba8ines’—and it’s a fifty pouni note in your pocket,” ‘“‘ The offer is a, tempting oiit,”, said AshBorHE appearing to teflect. “ But what papers are these you aré iHixious to posse’’; which até G6H- tained ii that desk?” “Pye do interest if Aéceit € xe ot Fe Tim Gafftiey : 7, you Shall satis eh that esk, and in the ee sant Fe oF 1 1 fitid a packet, in a8 ae id erivelope is written thé name of Tingle, es be ot start like that ?” me I thought I heard Htsteps, 2 fined An Ma: borne; “ but it was ht thing. Té i why camé here—who seit yoi—and What, You he done to find out, where tie (papets Were ? Satisfy me, in short, that Yyotir tale i itié—of I will alarm the housé without fuither delay.” “And if I tell you the truth ?” said Gaifney. “If you tell me the truth, and cotivincé mé that.it is such, I will let you escape.” “But I have a comrade in the house ” ** Ah !—a comrade ?” “Yes. I see you mean to accept the proposal i have made: but you tnust lef nie hélp my pal out of the difficulty in which he would be placed if I wasn’t to go back to him.” ‘“‘ Then where is he?” demanded Ashborne. ‘‘Up in Squire Ponsford’s chamber,” replied Gaffney, who made sure that the bailiff was going to enter into a treaty with him and, accept a bribe for placing the seal of silence upon his lips. . “* This is strange—most strange!” muttered Ashborne to himself. ‘ But what is. your com- rade doing in Mr. Ponsford’s chamber ?” : “Very much the samé thing that you are doing to me,” replied Gaffney,—“ keeping the Squire in check till such time as it might suit us to let.his worship be in peace and take our own departure.” “Now tell. me,” said Ashbomie, in a determined tone,—‘' who engaged, hired, or bribed you to | €nter the house for the purpose of obtaining these Papers ?” eee SS ‘‘Must you know all these particulars?” said Gaffney. ‘‘To be sure! I must know everything! If I fall into your plot I must ascertain the depth. of it, so that I may calculate how to measure the amount of profit that ought to come to myself. Be quick !—speak! Time is passing !’ “Itis a gentleman in London that hired us,” replied Tim Gaffney. “His name?” quickly demanded Ashborne. “‘'Well, I don’t know it. Perhaps it’s Pringle himself fot anything that I can tell to the con- trar as is ridiculous!” ejaculated Ashborne. “e aes tend not to know his name e truth,” answered Gaffney: ‘I don’t bP) knoW # or yet where he lives 708 "a have an appbintnientt with Eg sve the means of céimmunication vig matter bf course,” tépliéa Gaffney. oe I see oui Warit to be ‘iat father into the éss pe I at fst calculated. Tees a8 r intention,” jaculated Ste- me Aehbiowtiss de here! love not hadid or foot—or Pil Staot od ag I would & dog!” The prététtin callogit between the bailiff and the burelat hat jt en plate far mote rapidly than we could detail iti and thrbiglibut the discourse the forinét hat cdtitiviied tb Keep his knee u pon thie latté?’s chest; aiid one hatid ot his throat; w hi the oth Sf held a pistol meflatingly pest is fortes 30 th at the villfin Was ¢om jetely é 8 Sliborné tow arose Hon ¢ ae che: but he hiaintsinéd the pistol eine down trait liith ; ahd the béaitis we Minty bie bright to show Gaffhey the pro- #8 of his coil uerok. The lattér todk up the Hench af keys Whith had falleh from the burglar’s he ae dnd he deifidnded which key opened the &s “The snail oti,” replied Gaffney. The desk was accordingly opened ; and in the dipper compartment Stephen Ashborne found the sealed packet, with the name of Pringle written upon the envelope. “Tis well!” he muttered to himself; while it struck Tim Gaffney, as he gazed up from his re- cumbent position on the floor, that a strange ex- pression passed over the handsome countenance. of the bailiff, as the moonbeams penetrating through the holes in the shutters played upon his features. ““ Now,” continued Ashborne, securing the dacu- ment in the inside breast-pocket of lis coat, and buttonihg up thé gatment over his-chest, “I shall leave you to get out of the premises, you and your comparion, as best you can. Ak! I forgot to observe that I merely hold this document as a trustee for the person who employed you, be his real name Pringle or anything else ; and whenever that person shall apply to me for the packet, I will give if up to him.”. Tim Gaffiey looked astounded. as he still lay upon the floor, net daring to move, inasmuch as Ho pistol was still ominously ‘pointed towards ‘‘ Get up,” said Ashborne; ‘“ go and rejoin your companion, and get out of the, house as quick as ever you can. Perhaps the Squire may have his reasons for not giving you into custody on the very first occasion that he shall next fall in with COMO Colin