“I dare say yer does; but now let’s know the rights of it. Fire away!”
Peace explained to the gipsy that Lorry was in want of some ready cash. This he, Peace, was willing to furnish her with. In the next place she wanted somebody to call at her house and inform her maid that she was unavoidably detained in the country.
“As far as the cash is concerned, that there will be no difficulty about; the other matters will require some little consideration. The first thing to be done is for you to see her.”
“I’ll run down this ’ere blessed day,” cried Bill.
“No; to-morrow will do. Start early in the morning, and do your best. You must, of course, not give your own name.”
“I should think not—I’ll call myself Mr. Bourne.”
“Yes, and say you are her uncle. Better to pass as a relative. Her uncle—do you understand?”
“All right, I’m fly. But Lord bless us! this is a pretty business. Why, what could she be thinking about?”
“I expect she did it without thinking; it’s the way with women, but she’s got her head screwed on right enough, has cut her eye-teeth long ago. I certainly shouldn’t have thought she would have let herself be caught tripping in that fashion, but there is none of us know what may happen. It was to be, I suppose; that’s the best way of looking at the matter.”
“She’s proved herself to be a downright good sort to me, and I’d do any mortal thing to serve her,” cried Bill, in an earnest tone. “Whatever she wishes I’ll do, if it be possible—that’s all I can say. Hang it all, but this is a bad business.”