“If ever,” continued the maid of the inn, “murder was written in a mortal countenance, you may see it in the faces of two of the fellows above stairs. Lord! if they stop here to-night, I shall never close an eye!”
“Who are they?” inquired the ratcatcher.
“Heaven only knows,” was the reply. “They came into the house about an hour ago, and from the appearance of their shoes, I should say they had walked some distance. They inquired for a Mr. Jones; and on being told there was no person here of the name, they called for some ale, and said they would sit down and wait for their friend’s arrival. Presently the man they asked for arrived on horseback, dismounted, spoke to the others for some minutes, requested to have the use of a private room, and they retired together.”
“You may depend upon it, the errand that brought them here is not an honest one. Could you but see the suspicious looks they throw round them when I enter or lewe the room!”
“We’ll soon know more of both themselves and the business that brought them here,” returned the buxom widow. “You must know, Mister Macgreal, that a dark closet I keep for my private use, is divided from the large sitting room up stairs by a boarded partition, and there are cracks in the paper through which you can see what passes in the other room, and hear every word that’s said. Many a stolen kiss I’ve witnessed there—and many a tale of love I’ve listened to. Follow me softly. But, Lord! what was I going to do? Venture myself in the dark, and with an Irish gentleman! Oh! I won’t move a step, unless Susan comes along with us.”
“Honour bright!” exclaimed the ratcatcher.
“And you know there must be somebody left to mind the bar,” added the spider-brusher.
These observations were conclusive, and after an assurance of great discretion on the Captain’s part, the lady agreed to venture herself alone, and even in the dark, with the bashful Irishman.
Without occasioning the slightest alarm to the guests, who occupied the “great chamber” of the George, the ratcatcher and his fair companion ensconced themselves in the closet, and as it would appear, too, at a moment when the negotiation had assumed a business-looking character, and matters were drawing to a close.
“We understand one another perfectly,” said Mr. Jones.