Thanks to my management, you will sleep in the same
room to-night. Look round the house during the day; see if the key’s in the desk. If you can get hold of the money, all the better. In that case, come and hide it in that hollow tree, and we can secure it after the hue and cry is over. Do you hear?”
“Yes.”
“But if there is no chance of that, look out for me at midnight. I will throw gravel against your window as a signal. When you hear it, steal downstairs, with your shoes in your hands, and open the door to me. I will attend to the rest. And mind,” he added sternly, “I shall take no excuses.”
“Suppose I am caught going downstairs?”
“Say you are taken sick. It will be easy enough to make an excuse.”
“Are you going to Crampton?” asked Tony.
Of course not. Do you think I am such a fool as to take a long walk like that?”
“You said you were going.”
“Only to put them off the scent. I shall hide in yonder wood till night. Then I will find my way back to the farmhouse.”