He got up, struck a match, and lighted a candle. He turned down the bedclothes, and then turned down the upper mattress, which was very thin. Under this he found a double-barrelled shot-gun. Mr. Muller was greatly astonished.
“No wonder I slept badly,” he said, “lying on this thing.”
Then he took up the gun, and sat on the side of the bed, thinking. He had heard some talk that evening, at the supper-table, about a French boy who stole a gun from young Berkeley, and also attempted to shoot him. He knew that this was the room which had been occupied by a French boy, because the landlord had mentioned it when he accompanied him up-stairs. Naturally, therefore, he connected the gun with the story he had heard.
Since his interview with Chap Webster in the barn-yard, he had thought a good deal about the story the boy had told him of the troubles at Hyson Hall. He rather liked Chap, although he had been a good deal provoked at him when he read the postal-card which had made him an object of ridicule at his boarding-house in New York. He had never seen Philip Berkeley, but the fact of his having taken a good deal of trouble to restore him his black straw hat, by posting up a notice to its owner, and leaving it in a place where it could be conveniently called for, had impressed him with the idea that Phil was a sensible and considerate boy. He felt willing, therefore, to do all he could to help the young fellow who was put to so much trouble by the absence of his uncle; and as he had, besides, a very strong desire on his own account to find Mr. Godfrey Berkeley, he had made a good many inquiries about that gentleman at the different places he had visited during the last few days, but had received no information whatever.
“I think,” said he to himself, at last, “that I will put this gun back where I found it; but I won’t put it across the bed, as it was before. There is room enough here for us both to lie very comfortably.”
So he laid Old Bruden on the farther side of the bed, with its muzzle pointed a little outward, so that he should not be incommoded, in case it should choose to go off in the night. He could not find out whether it was loaded or not, because there was no ramrod to the gun, but he felt perfectly safe with its muzzle pointed away from him. He had often slept with a loaded pistol under his pillow.
CHAPTER XXVI.
MR. TOURON ATTENDS PERSONALLY TO HIS AFFAIRS.
The next day but one after the visit of the two gentlemen to Hyson Hall, Mr. Touron, at his residence in New York, read in his morning paper a short account of the boys who had saved part of the cargo of a burning steamboat, by running her ashore. The name and residence of Philip Berkeley were given, and mention was made of the handsome sum he and his companions were to receive for their services.
The French gentleman instantly suspected the effect which this event would have upon himself. Philip Berkeley would pay off the interest on the mortgage, and Hyson Hall would not be sold by the sheriff nor bought by the Tourons.