“You scarcely thought what kind of company our friend used to keep formerly?” asked Linton, sneeringly.
“I knew all about that tolerably well. I was rather puzzling myself a little about this Pedro Rica; that same trick of capturing the slavers, and then selling the slaves, is worthy of one I could mention, not to speak of the double treachery of informing against his comrades, and sending the English frigate after them.”
“A deep hand he must be,” remarked Linton, coolly.
“A very deep one; but what is Cashel likely to do here?”
“Nothing; he has no clew whatever to the business; the letter itself he had not time to read through, when he dropped it, and—”
“I understand—perfectly. This accounts for his agitation. Well, I must say, my secret is the better of the two, and, as usual, you have made a good bargain.”
“Not better than your morning's work here, Hoare; confess that”
“Ah, there will not be many more such harvests to reap,” said he, sighing.
“How so? his fortune is scarcely breached as yet”
“He spends money fast,” said Hoare, gravely; “even now, see what sums he has squandered; think of the presents he has lavished,—diamonds, horses—”