FullReads

‘”Why, as for that, sir”–my grandfather was taken aback–“I took it for a joke, and bear no grudge against Government for it.”

‘”It wouldn’t help you if you did,” said Captain Sharpland. “But I suggest that Mr Nathan, here, owes you a trifle–shall we put it at twenty pounds?”

‘But here Mr Nathan cast up his hands with a scream, and would have sat down in the roadway. The soldiers caught him, and held him upright, and you may guess if, in their temper at being fooled, they twisted his arms a bit.

‘”Take him to my quarters, and we will discuss it,” commanded Captain Sharpland, turning back to the wicket again, and leading the way. Well, the Jew, when he reached the agent’s quarters, rolled on to his knees, and whined so long, beating down the price, that ’twas well after four o’clock before he counted out the five guineas which was the least sum Captain Sharpland would hear of. My grandfather counted them into his pocket, scarcely believing his good fortune. He stayed behind after the creature had slunk away out of the room– to have a laugh with the captain, who very heartily offered him a glass of grog upon the top of it; and with that it came over him how he was deceiving this good man. He couldn’t accept the drink; he could scarcely muster up face to say “Good-night, sir, and thank you,” and if he, too, as he went out, didn’t carry his tail between his legs, I doubt if he felt much better satisfied with himself than did Mr Nathan.

‘But just outside the gate he found something to distract his mind. The soldiers, in a rage at being made to look foolish, had been waiting there for Mr Nathan with their belts; and my grandfather arrived in time to hear the wretched man howling for mercy, as they chevied him away over the moor under the lee of North Hessary and into the dusk.

‘He stood and listened for a minute or so, but by-and-by there was an end of the yells, and the soldiers came strolling back, laughing together, as men who had taken a pleasant little revenge but not pushed it too far. So he turned his face for home, and reached it a little after nightfall; and there he turned out his pocket in front of my grandmother, who could not believe a word of the tale until she had handled each guinea separately. Then she, too, flung her apron over her head, and laughed till she was weak. But my grandfather wanted to know if by rights he oughtn’t to share the money with the prisoner.

‘My grandmother couldn’t make up her mind about this, and advised him to sleep on it. The young man (she said) had faithfully kept his bed all day, but was growing resty. So my grandfather, before supping, took a light and went upstairs to the garret.

‘”We’ve kept the scent wide to-day,” he reported, very cheerful-like. “But you’ll have to lie still for a while yet.”

‘”Lyin’ here puts a strain on a man,” the lad grumbled. “Couldn’t I take a turn in the fields, now that dark has fallen? I’d promise not to stray far from the house.”

‘”That’s a notion,” my grandfather agreed. “I once had to lie in bed two days with a quinsy, and I hated it.” He considered for a while, and could see no objection. “Come down and sup with us,” he said; “and afterwards, if the missus agrees, you can take a stroll. But don’t make too much noise when you let yourself in again.”

‘Well, so it was fixed; and after supper the lad put on a pair of high-lows my grandfather lent him, and started off for a ramble in the night air, with a plenty of instructions about the safest paths. At nine o’clock, which was their regular hour, my grandfather and grandmother made out the light and went to bed, leaving the door on the latch. It was an hour before my grandfather could get to sleep. He was thinking of the five guineas, and how they ought rightfully to be divided.