"Where's Billy?" he asked, after a pause, in a quick, hurried tone, looking up suddenly at the cook, with an expression in his eyes which, as she afterward said, took away her breath.
"Oh, never heed Billy! I suppose he's busy with the master."
"Where's the use, Nelly," said the coachman, "in hiding it from him? Sure, sooner or later, he must know it. Tim," he continued, "God knows 'tis sorrow to my heart this blessed night to make yours sore—but the truth is, that William has done what he oughtn't to do to the man that was all one as a father to him."
"What has he done? what will you dar say again my boy?"
"Taken money, then," replied the coachman, "that the master had marked and put by in his desk; for he suspected this some time past that gold was missing. This morning 'twas gone; a search was made, and the marked guineas were found with your son William."
The old man covered his face with his hands, and rocked himself to and fro.
"Where is he now?" at length he asked, in a hoarse voice.
"Locked up safe in the inner store-room; the master intends sending him to jail early to-morrow morning."
"He will not," said Gahan, slowly. "Kill the boy that saved his life!—no, no."
"Poor fellow! the grief is setting his mind astray—and sure no wonder!" said the cook, compassionately.