CHAPTER IX.

n.I’dhaveyoutoremember,sir,myproperty’sgotnoentailonit—sincemygrandfather’stimetheCassescandoastheylikewiththeirland.Rememberthat,sir.LetDunseyhavethemoney!WhyshouldyouletDunseyhavethemoney?There’ssomelieatthebottomofit.” “There’snolie,sir,”saidGodfrey.“Iwouldn’thavespentthemoneymyself,butDunseybotheredme,andIwasafool,andlethimhaveit.ButImeanttopayit,whetherhedidornot.That’sthewholestory.Inevermeanttoembezzlemoney,andI’mnotthemantodoit.Youneverknewmedoadishonesttrick,sir.” “Where’sDunsey,then?Whatdoyoustandtalkingtherefor?GoandfetchDunsey,asItellyou,andlethimgiveaccountofwhathewantedthemoneyfor,andwhathe’sdonewithit.Heshallrepentit.I’llturnhimout.IsaidIwould,andI’lldoit.Heshan’tbraveme.Goandfetchhim.” “Dunseyisn’tcomeback,sir.” “What!didhebreakhisownneck,then?”saidtheSquire,withsomedisgustattheideathat,inthatcase,hecouldnotfulfilhisthreat. “No,hewasn’thurt,Ibelieve,forthehorsewasfounddead,andDunseymusthavewalkedoff.Idaresayweshallseehimagainby-and-by.Idon’tknowwhereheis.” “Andwhatmustyoubelettinghimhavemymoneyfor?Answermethat,”saidtheSquire,attackingGodfreyagain,sinceDunseywasnotwithinreach. “Well,sir,Idon’tknow,”saidGodfrey,hesitatingly.Thatwasafeebleevasion,butGodfreywasnotfondoflying,and,notbeingsufficientlyawarethatnosortofduplicitycanlongflourishwithoutthehelpofvocalfalsehoods,hewasquiteunpreparedwithinventedmotives. “Youdon’tknow?Itellyouwhatitis,sir.You’vebeenuptosometrick,andyou’vebeenbribinghimnottotell,”saidtheSquire,withasuddenacutenesswhichstartledGodfrey,whofelthisheartbeatviolentlyatthenearnessofhisfather’sguess.Thesuddenalarmpushedhimontotakethenextstep—averyslightimpulsesufficesforthatonadownwardroad. “Why,sir,”hesaid,tryingtospeakwithcarelessease,“itwasalittleaffairbetweenmeandDunseyit’snomattertoanybodyelse.It’shardlyworthwhiletopryintoyoungmen’sfooleries:itwouldn’thavemadeanydifferencetoyou,sir,ifI’dnothadthebadlucktoloseWildfire.Ishouldhavepaidyouthemoney.” “Fooleries!Pshaw!it’stimeyou’ddonewithfooleries.AndI’dhaveyouknow,sir,youmustha’donewith’em,”saidtheSquire,frowningandcastinganangryglanceathisson.“Yourgoings-onarenotwhatIshallfindmoneyforanylonger.There’smygrandfatherhadhisstablesfullo’horses,andkeptagoodhouse,too,andinworsetimes,bywhatIcanmakeoutandsomightI,ifIhadn’tfourgood-for-nothingfellowstohangonmelikehorse-leeches.I’vebeentoogoodafathertoyouall—that’swhatitis.ButIshallpullup,sir.” Godfreywassilent.Hewasn