“Because I heard the boy that I believe stole them say they were too big for him to meddle with.”
The gentleman then that owned them said, “Where is the boy?”
Then the other gentleman put in, and said, “No, you must not ask him that; I passed my word that you should not, and that he should not be obliged to tell it to anybody.”
“Well, child,” says he, “you will let us see the letter-case opened, and whether the bills are in it?”
“Yes,” says I.
Then the first gentleman said, “How many bills were there in it?”
“Only three,” says he. “Besides the bill of £12, 10s., there was Sir Stephen Evans’s note for £300 and two foreign bills.”
“Well, then, if they are in the letter-case, the boy shall have £30, shall he not?” “Yes,” says the gentleman; “he shall have it very freely.”
“Come, then, child,” says he, “let me open it.”
So I gave it him, and he opened it, and there were all three bills, and several other papers, fair and safe, nothing defaced or diminished; and the gentleman said, “All is right.”