"Hold your nonsense, Ned," cried Tidkins: then addressing himself again to the old woman, he said, "Well—don't you think that scheme would answer the purpose?"
"Very likely—very likely," exclaimed the hag. "But proofs—written proofs—would not be bad companions to the statement that you wish me to draw up."
"And have you such written proofs?" demanded Tidkins, eagerly.
"I have—I have," was the reply.
"Where are they?"
"Where you cannot discover them—concealed at my own abode. No one could find them, even if they pulled the house down, except myself."
And again the hag leered cunningly.
"This only makes the matter more important," mused the Resurrection Man, now hesitating between his avarice and his desire to possess such important testimony. "Well," he continued, after a pause,—"to use your own words, we will make terms. I tell you what I'll do:—write out your history of the whole business in full—in full, mind; and I will give you ten guineas down. At night me and Banks will take you home—to your own place; where you shall give me up the written proofs you talk of—and I will give you another ten guineas. Now is that a bargain?"
"Alack! it must be—it must be!" said the hag. "But why not let me go home to write out the history?"
"I am not quite such a fool," returned Tidkins. "And mind you do not attempt to deceive me with any inventions for I shall deuced soon be able to tell whether your history tallies with all I overheard you and Katherine say together on the subject. Besides, the written proofs must be forthcoming—and they, too, must fully corroborate all you state. Fail in any one of these conditions—and, by Satan! I'll cut your throat from ear to ear. Do you agree?"