olas.

"Bad policy, Sir George, bad policy. He might try his hand on you next
time."

"I wonder how much property of mine he has taken already?" continued
the host. "I will have him thoroughly searched. I know the rascal well
enough, he's been here before now many a time. There's a whole lot of
them prowling around the neighbourhood; a regular gang. I'll make an
example of this one, I will. You might as well give me what you have
taken," he added, turning to his captive, "and save me the labour of
taking it from you."

"I have nothing of yours," replied Edmund, in a strangely foreign
voice.

"Not been through the house yet, maybe, eh!"

"No."

"Humph, I don't believe you. Here, Hugh," he cried, hearing the ostler
moving about below, "come up here."

Edmund's quondam friend and fellow conspirator came up in answer
to the summons in no very enviable frame of mind, anticipating very
correctly what was about to take place, and debating within himself
what course of action to pursue. He quickly decided, however, that
inasmuch as he had not yet possessed himself of the money due to
him from the captive, that he would screen him as far as he was
able--compatibly with his own safety.

"What's this fellow doing here?" demanded his master, as soon as Hugh
stepped into the room.

"Can't say, sir," replied Hugh, gazing at Edmund with well-simulated
surprise, "maybe he's in drink."

"A likely story, that. Do drunken folk climb up ladders, eh?"

"Not always, sir."

"How long has he been up here, now?"

"Never seen him afore, sir," returned the unabashed ostler, with an
air of perfect candour.

"You will be getting into serious trouble some day if you don't be
careful to speak the truth," exclaimed his master, "so I warn you,
sir. Now, out with it; he was here when you went down."

"I had not seen him then, by the blessed Virgin I had not. I have
never clap't eyes on the knave before!"

"Now, mind, I warn you, so be careful."

"I had only just got up, master; upon my word I had. I had not
sufficient time to see anybody before you came and sent me down,"
and at the remembrance of that event he stepped back a pace or two in
order that his previous experience might not be repeated.

"You good-for-nothing rascal you!" broke out the landlord. "I stood
and watched you myself, you were looking at the play. Get you gone,
you idle vagabond," he added, in high dudgeon, "get you gone, and
bring me up some stout cord."