“Ay, very long,” replied the lad.
They walked on again at a smart pace, but in silence.
Presently they heard footsteps approaching, and a man soon came up from the direction of Cove.
“Foine noight,” said the man.
“Fine night it is,” responded Gaff and Billy in the same breath.
Gaff suddenly turned and accosted the stranger just as he had passed them.
“D’ye belong to Cove?”
“No, I doan’t; only stoppin’ there a bit.”
“Ye don’t happen to know a ’ooman o’ the name o’ Gaff, do ye?”
“Gaff—Gaff,” repeated the man, meditating; “no, I niver heern on her.”