“No, not I, child; I’ll do thee no harm. What is it? Do you know anything of the gentleman’s letter-case?”
I answered, but spoke softly that he could not hear me; so he gets over presently into the seat next him, and opens a place that was made to come out, and bade me come in to him; and I did.
Then he asked me again if I knew anything of the letter-case.
I spoke softly again, and said folks would hear him.
Then he whispered softly, and asked me again.
I told him I believed I did, but that, indeed, I had it not, nor had no hand in stealing it, but it was gotten into the hands of a boy that would have burned it, if it had not been for me; and that I heard him say that the gentleman would be glad to have them again, and give a good deal of money for them.
“I did say so, child,” said he; “and if you can get them for him, he shall give you a good reward, no less than £30, as he has promised.”
“But you said too, sir, to the gentleman just now,” said I, “that you was sure he would not bring them into any harm that should bring them.”
“No, you shall come to no harm. I will pass my word for it.”
Boy. Nor shan’t they make me bring other people into trouble?