"He asked me whether I would have my sack spiced or no."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Sir George; "that was cool enough, at any rate.
I think we ought to let the knave free this time for his wit."
"And let him prey on somebody else?" added Sir Nicholas.
"Bad policy, Sir George, bad policy. He might try his hand on you next time."
"I wonder how much property of mine he has taken already?" continued the host. "I will have him thoroughly searched. I know the rascal well enough, he's been here before now many a time. There's a whole lot of them prowling around the neighbourhood; a regular gang. I'll make an example of this one, I will. You might as well give me what you have taken," he added, turning to his captive, "and save me the labour of taking it from you."
"I have nothing of yours," replied Edmund, in a strangely foreign voice.
"Not been through the house yet, maybe, eh!"
"No."
"Humph, I don't believe you. Here, Hugh," he cried, hearing the ostler moving about below, "come up here."
Edmund's quondam friend and fellow conspirator came up in answer to the summons in no very enviable frame of mind, anticipating very correctly what was about to take place, and debating within himself what course of action to pursue. He quickly decided, however, that inasmuch as he had not yet possessed himself of the money due to him from the captive, that he would screen him as far as he was able—compatibly with his own safety.