"And it's
Swale's doing, I know," he muttered; "he's been a-fighting for it iver
since. Well, I'll tak t' L300 he offers, wi' t' L80 I hev in t' house,
I can make shift to reach t' other side o' t' world, and one side is
happen as good as t' other side. I'll go and see Swale this varry
hour."
He was arrested by a peculiar sound in the cellar beneath his feet,
a sound that made him turn pale to the very lips. In a few moments
the door opened, and Tim Bingley stepped into the room.
"Thou scoundrel! What does ta want here?"
"Thou get me summat to eat and drink, and then I'll tell thee what
I want."
His tone was not to be disputed. He was a desperate man, and Laycock
obeyed him.
"Thou told me thou would go abroad."
"I meant to go abroad, but I didn't. I got drunk and lost my brass.
Thou'll hev to give me some more. I'll go clean off this time."
"I've got none to give thee."
"Varry well, then I'll hev to be took up; and if I'm sent to York
Castle, thou'lt hev lodgings varry close to me. Mak' up thy mind to
that, Bill Laycock."
"I didn't kill Clough, and thou can't say I did."
Bingley did not answer. He sat munching his bread and casting evil
glances every now and then at his wretched entertainer.
"What does ta want?"
"Thou hed better give me a fresh suit o' clothes; these are fair worn
out--and L20.
Pages:
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84