That evening a sealed packet was delivered at The Moat House, addressed to Mrs. Falconer, with Father Austin's congratulations on the recovery of a document so important to her interests, and expressions of high satisfaction that in the exercise of his holy functions, he had been permitted to afford her this assistance. Also that, with respect to the reward of twenty pounds, he felt it his duty to accept it, on behalf of the poor and sick members of his flock.
"We'll see about that," said the Squire, contemptuously; "no reward was offered for wringing secrets out of even guilty hearts, and whoever gave up the paper shall have the reward."
"But you forget that a priest may not reveal secrets told in confession," suggested Mrs. Hazelwood; "and he says, 'In the exercise of his holy functions.'"
"Tusk! Little simpleton," said the Squire, "this man forgets where he is. Our people are not the fools he takes them for, and I shall find a way to rival his confessional, or I'm not Roger Hazelwood. But now for a dose of law and justice for Mr. Penacre and his worthy client, I suspect."
Mrs. Falconer's head bent in thankfulness over the recovered deed, which detailed in legal terms the fact briefly alluded to in the memoranda confided to Phœbe's care, and there was no doubt of the fraud which had been perpetrated by the younger Mr. Falconer, nor of the power on the part of the widow and children of the late Captain Guy Falconer to demand restitution. That the claim would not be in vain was owing to the promptitude of Mr. Hazelwood, in his timely prohibition of any payments to the late owner of certain estates in England, until it should be proved and answered.
"Father," said Evelyn, gravely, "Maude and I have an idea of the conscience that has been probed in this matter, and that in reality our words screamed into two deaf ears have had more effect than the priest's 'functions.' We made a great impression with 'twenty pounds,' and another visit which we planned to make would have secured a victory. Mr. Freakes has only anticipated us."
"And," added Maude, "we think there may have been something else discovered in the bureau, because a mere old parchment like this would not sufficiently account for the old woman's evident alarm, nor for concealment of her possession of it."
"Very well thought of, my wise little wenches," cried the Squire. "We will look into it, and do to others the justice we ask for ourselves. And you must teach your old woman that if she should lose twenty pounds, it will be because of her roundabout way of doing things, instead of going straight at the truth like a Christian."
Just as the great doors of The Moat House were being secured for the night, a solitary figure shyly begged admittance to a few minutes' speech with the master.
"Hodge! Why Hodge, my man! What brings you here this time of night?" exclaimed the Squire, at once recognising the man as a thrasher who was often employed on farms in the neighbourhood. "Come in and tell me your trouble; nothing very bad, I hope, though it is a late hour for honest folk to be abroad by choice."