“The better title is certainly yours,” he conceded.
I believe there was enough of the imaginative boy yet left in him to thrill and respond to this exciting legend of gold. Uncle Jenico felt the change, and fell back, glistening, and softly rubbing his hands together.
“Mr. Pilbrow,” said the clergyman, suddenly and decisively, “will you tell me plainly what you propose?”
“I propose,” said Joshua, as instantly, “to visit, and identify, and search the remains of my unhappy brother to-morrow; I propose to take advantage of the letter which, I am convinced, will be found on them, and which, by every right, is legally mine, to secure the treasure. After that, sir, let in your Hercules with a fire-hose, if you will. I shall be content for my part. Possession is eleven points in the law, and for the twelfth I will go to pitch-and-toss with it.”
“Sant, that is certainly fair!” cried out Uncle Jenico, impulsively, and immediately fell abashed.
A longish silence ensued.
“Very well,” said our dear rector at last. “I will agree to defer my action till after to-morrow; but on condition that, once having secured his wonderful haul, Mr. Pilbrow openly challenges the law to deprive him of it. It is buying a pig in a poke, I believe; but I must guard myself by insisting.”
He uttered a rather enjoying laugh, which he tried to make ironic.
“That’s capital,” said Uncle Jenico. “You don’t object to the condition, Mr. Pilbrow?”
“No,” said Joshua, shortly. “I ask for complete secrecy in the mean time—that is all. That man’s wife——”