"There would be nobody to disturb my uncle in the possession of his property."
"He wouldn't cry much if you was to die."
"What do you mean?" asked Gilbert, unpleasantly impressed by the man's tone.
"He wants you dead—that's the long and short of it."
"I can't believe it," said Gilbert, shuddering. "You can have no cause to say this. He can't be so wicked."
"Look here, young one," said Hugh, "I'll tell you a secret. You take me for a robber, don't you?"
"Yes."
"In course you do. Now I'm going to surprise you. My stopping your mouth to-day was all a put-up job."
"You don't mean that my uncle engaged you to do it?"
"Yes, I do."