provoke an outbreak. Oh dear no!'

'No, by the Lord Harry!' cried Dennis with a noisy laugh, 'you went down
very quiet, Muster Gashford--and very flat besides. I thinks to myself
at the time "it's all up with Muster Gashford!" I never see a man lay
flatter nor more still--with the life in him--than you did to-day. He's
a rough 'un to play with, is that 'ere Papist, and that's the fact.'

The secretary's face, as Dennis roared with laughter, and turned his
wrinkled eyes on Hugh who did the like, might have furnished a study for
the devil's picture. He sat quite silent until they were serious again,
and then said, looking round:

'We are very pleasant here; so very pleasant, Dennis, that but for my
lord's particular desire that I should sup with him, and the time being
very near at hand, I should be inclined to stay, until it would be
hardly safe to go homeward. I come upon a little business--yes, I do--as
you supposed. It's very flattering to you; being this. If we ever
should be obliged--and we can't tell, you know--this is a very uncertain
world'--

'I believe you, Muster Gashford,' interposed the hangman with a grave
nod. 'The uncertainties as I've seen in reference to this here state of
existence, the unexpected contingencies as have come about!--Oh my eye!'
Feeling the subject much too vast for expression, he puffed at his pipe
again, and looked the rest.

'I say,' resumed the secretary, in a slow, impressive way; 'we can't
tell what may come to pass; and if we should be obliged, against our
wills, to have recourse to violence, my lord (who has suffered terribly
to-day, as far as words can go) consigns to you two--bearing in mind my
recommendation of you both, as good staunch men, beyond all doubt and
suspicion--the pleasant task of punishing this Haredale. You may do as
you please with him, or his, provided that you show no mercy, and no
quarter, and leave no two beams of his house standing where the builder
placed them. You may sack it, burn it, do with it as you like, but
it must come down; it must be razed to the ground; and he, and all
belonging to him, left as shelterless as new-born infants whom their
mothers have exposed. Do you understand me?' said Gashford, pausing, and
pressing his hands together gently.

'Understand you, master!' cried Hugh. 'You speak plain now. Why, this is
hearty!'

'I knew you would like it,' said Gashford, shaking him by the hand; 'I
thought you would. Good night! Don't ris