"Hey?" he inquired, helplessly. "What was you a saying of,
gentlemen? What is it?"
"We weren't a saying of anything as yet," returned Hubert; "but
we mean to, shortly. Are you quite sure you are wide awake?"
"What do you want?" was the cross question, given by way of
answer. "What do you come bothering me for at such a rate, all
night, I want to know?"
"Keep civil, friend, we wear swords," said Hubert, touching, with
dignity, the hilt of the little dagger he carried; "we only want
to ask you a few questions. First, do you see that house over
yonder?"
"Oh! I see it!" said the man gruffly; "I am not blind!"
"Well who was the last person you saw come out of that house?"
"I don't know who they was!" still more gruffly. "I ain't got
the pleasure of their acquaintance!"
"Did you see a young lady come out of it lately?"
"Did I see a young lady?" burst out the watchman, in a high key
of aggrieved expostulation. "How many more times this blessed
night am I to be asked about that young lady. First and
foremost, there comes two young men, which this here is one of
them, and they bring out the young lady and have her hauled away
in the dead-cart; then comes along another and wants to know all
the particulars, and by the time he gets properly away, somebody
else comes and brings her back like a drowned rat.
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