me as 'adn't one
copper to rub agin the other? If he'd held his tongue I'd 'ave known
nothin', and he'd 'ave bin alive now for you to try your 'and on in the
religious way. Jentham was a bad 'un, if you like.'

'We are all sinners, Mosk.'

'Some of us are wuss than others. With the 'ception of murderin' Jentham
and priggin' his cash, I ain't done nothin' to no one as I knows of.
Look here, Mr Baltic, I've done one bit of business to-day with the
parson, and now I'm goin' to do another bit with you. 'Ave you pen and
paper?'

'Yes!' Baltic produced his pocket-book and a stylographic pen. 'Are you
going to confess?'

'I'spose I may as well,' said Mosk, scowling. 'You'll be blaming young
Mr Pendle, or the bishop, if I don't; an' as the fust of 'em's goin' to
marry my Bell, I don't want trouble there.'

'Won't you confess from a sense of your sin?'

'No, I won't. It's my gal and not repentance as makes me tell the truth.
I want to put her an' young Mr Pendle fair and square.'

'Well,' said Baltic, getting ready to write, 'confession is a sign that
your heart is softening.'

'It ain't your religion as is doing it, then,' sneered Mosk. 'Now then,
fire away, old cove.'

The man then went on to state that he was desperately hard up when
Jentham came to stay at The Derby Winner, and, as he was unable to pay
his rent, he feared lest Sir Harry should turn him and his sick wife and
much-loved daughter into the streets. Jentham, in his cups, several
times boasted that he was about to receive a large sum of money from an
unknown friend on Southberry Heath, and on one occasion went so far as
to inform Mosk of the time and place when he would receive it. He was
thus confidential when very drunk, on Mosk reproaching him with not
paying for his board and lodging. As the landlord was in much need of
money, his avarice was roused by the largeness of the sum hinted at by
Jentham; and thinking that the man was a tramp, who would not be missed,
he determined to murder and rob him. Gabriel Pendle had given--or
rather, had lent--Mosk a pistol to protect himself from gipsies, and
vagrants, and harvesters on his frequent night journeys across the
lonely heath between Beorminster and Southberry. On the Sunday when the
money was to be paid at the Cross-Roads, Mosk rode over to Southberry;
and late at night, about the time of the appointment, he went on
horseback to the Cross Roads. A storm came on and detained him, so it
was after the bi