at
glided into a little cove, where a number of fishing-craft lay at
anchor. "A'n't you happy?"

Either smarting under what he felt the sarcasm of her question, or too
deeply immersed in his own thoughts, he made no reply whatever, but as
the boat grated on the shingly beach he sprang out and gained the land.
In another minute the boatmen had drawn the skiff high and dry, on the
sand, and assisted the others to disembark.

"How forgetful you are of all gallant attentions!" said she, as Trover
stood looking on, and never offering any assistance whatever. "Have you
got any silver in your purse, papa?"

"I can't see what these pieces are," said Holmes, trying to peer through
the darkness.

"Pay these people, Trover," said she, "and be liberal with them.
Remember from what fate they have saved you." And as she spoke she
handed him her purse. "We'll saunter slowly up to the village, and you
can follow us."

Trover called the men around him, and proceeded to settle their fare,
while Holmes and his daughter proceeded at an easy pace inland.

"How much was there in your purse, Loo?" asked Holmes.

"Something under twenty Napoleons, papa; but it will be quite enough."

"Enough for what, dear?"

"Enough to tempt poor Mr. Trover. We shall never see more of him."

"Do you really think so?"

"I am certain of it. He was thinking of nothing else than how to make
his escape all the time we were crossing the lake, and I, too, had no
more pressing anxiety than how to get rid of him. Had I offered him a
certain sum, we should have had him for a pensioner as long as he lived,
but by making him steal the money I force him to be his own security
that he 'll never come back again. It was for this that I persisted
in acting on his fears in the boat; the more wretched we made him the
cheaper he became, and when he heaved that last heavy sigh, I took ten
Napoleons off his price."

Holmes had to stop walking, and hold his hands to his sides with
laughter. The device seemed to him about the best practical joke he had
ever heard of. Then ceasing suddenly, he said,--

"But what if he were to go back to the others, Loo, and turn approver
against us?"

"We are safe enough on that score. He has nothing to tell them that they
do not know already. They have got to the bottom of all the mystery, and
they don't want him."

"Still it seems to me, Loo, that it might have been safer to keep him
along with us,--under our eye, as it were."