Upon examination, which they ventured at sunrise, footsteps were visible all round the cottage; but there were no marks of blood, of which Armstrong was glad, among other reasons, because he detested the idea of a prosecution, and was willing that the thieves should escape punishment, provided he could get over the affair quietly.
“What do you mean to do next?” Margaret ventured to ask when he had done ruminating over his breakfast.
“I have made up my mind,” he replied, “and I do not mean to change it. We are neither of us to say a syllable of what has happened.”
Margaret nodded, for this was what she expected.
“Can you fire a pistol, Margaret?”
She had never tried, but she had no doubt she could.
“Very well; then you will do to stay with me, if you choose to comply with my conditions. If we tell what has happened, it will put it into other people’s heads to attack us: and it will do no good to remove the chest, now that I have the reputation of having one. It must be for that they came. You and I will watch by turns this winter, one going to bed at dark to sleep till midnight, and then watching while the other sleeps till dawn. Now, Margaret, will you stay or go?”
Margaret asked a little time for consideration which was of course given. By dinner-time she[she] was ready with her assent to the plan. Not many women would have given it; but attachment to her master and her office prevailed over the few fears she had; and the condition of silence would not be difficult to observe if, as she expected, she should see nobody for some months, unless indeed it should be the thieves themselves.
Armstrong was again haunted with the idea that it would have been better to allow his gold to circulate so that it would be robbed of none of its value to himself, than to risk its being obtained by others in such a way as that he should lose the whole.