yer wife's done with my money. D'yer mind that box? It wor you an I
carried it across that night as Watson come out on us. An yo'll bear me
witness as we locked it up, an yo saw me tie the two keys roun my neck--
yo _did_, Isaac. An now, Isaac'--the hoarse voice began to tremble--'now
there's two--suverins--left, and one 'arf-crown--out o' seventy-one
pound fower an sixpence--seventy-one pound, Isaac! Yo'll get it out on
'er, Isaac, yer will, won't yer?'

He looked up, imploring.

Isaac, after the first violent start, stood absolutely motionless,
Saunders observing him. As one of the main props of Church Establishment
in the village, Saunders had no great opinion of Isaac Costrell, who
stood for the dissidence of dissent. The two men had never been friends,
and Saunders in this affair had perhaps exercised the quasi-judicial
functions the village had long by common consent allowed him, with more
readiness than usual.

As soon as John ceased speaking, Isaac walked up to Saunders.

'Let me see that box,' he said peremptorily, 'put it down.'

Saunders, who had rested the box on the back of a chair, placed it
gently on the table, assisted by Isaac. A few feet away stood Bessie,
saying nothing, her hand holding the duster on her hip, her eyes
following her husband.

He looked carefully at the two sovereigns lying on the bit of old cloth
which covered the bottom of the box, and the one half-crown that Timothy
had forgotten; he took up the bit of cloth and shook it, he felt along
the edge of the box, he examined the wrenched lock. Then he stood for an
instant, his hand on the box, his eyes staring straight before him in a
kind of dream.

Saunders grew impatient. He pushed John aside, and came to the table,
leaning his hands upon it, so as to command Isaac's face.

'Now, look 'ere, Isaac,' he said, in a different voice from any that he
had yet employed, 'let's come to business. These 'ere are the facks o'
this case, an 'ow we're a-goin to get over 'em, I don see. John leaves
his money in your cupboard. Yo an he lock it up, an John goes away with
'is keys 'ung roun 'is neck. Yo agree to that? Well and good. But
there's _another_ key in your 'ouse, Isaac, as opens John's cupboard.
Ah--'

He waved his hand in deprecation of Isaac's movement.

'I dessay yo didn't know nowt about it--that's noather 'ere nor there.
Yo try John's key in that there door'--he pointed to the cupboard by the
fire--'an yo'll find it fits _ex_-