'A very sensible suggestion,' said Gaston, approvingly, smoothing
his moustache. 'What do you say, Madame?'
She shook her head.
'Let him keep his ill-gotten gains,' she said, resignedly. 'Now that
he has obtained what he wanted, perhaps he'll leave me alone; I will
do nothing.'
'Dae naethin'!' echoed Archie, in great wrath. 'Will ye let that
freend o' Belzibub rin awa' wid a three hun'red ounces of gold an'
dae naethin'? Na, na, ye mauna dae it, I tell ye. Oh, aye, ye may
sit there, mem, and glower awa' like a boggle, but ye aren'a gangin'
to make yoursel' a martyr for yon. Keep the nugget? I'll see him
damned first.'
This was the first time that Archie had ever dared to cross Mrs
Villiers' wishes, and she stared in amazement at the unwonted
spectacle. This time, however, McIntosh found an unexpected ally in
Vandeloup, who urged that Villiers should be prosecuted.
'He is not only guilty of robbery, Madame,' said the young
Frenchman, 'but also of an attempt to murder you, and while he is
allowed to go free, your life is not safe.'
Selina also contributed her mite of wisdom in the form of a
proverb:--
'A stitch in time saves nine,' intimating thereby that Mr Villiers
should be locked up and never let out again, in case he tried the
same game on with the next big nugget found.
Madame thought for a few moments, and, seeing that they were all
unanimous, she agreed to the proposal that Villiers should be
prosecuted, with the stipulation, however, that he should be first
written to and asked to give up the nugget.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173