“‘A-ha,’ said the grim Rudolph, with a sneer. ‘No man lives who does not tremble at those words.’
“And again that smile curved his dread lips, as he looked at the yet unconscious maiden.
“For well he knew that the sixty thousand crowns would be his that even.
“‘Let her be treated with all courtesy—till to-night,’ he said as he turned away.”
William heaved a deep sigh and took a long draught of liquorice water.
It seemed an easy and wholly delightful way of earning money.
*****
“They’re awfully nice people,” said Ethel the next day at breakfast, “and it is so kind of them to ask us to tea.”
“Very,” said Mrs. Brown, “and they say, ‘Bring the little boy’.”
The little boy looked up, with the sinister smile he had been practising.