"That is good. Canst thou not get from thy daughter an inkling of what

passed between them, good Foster?"

"I tell you plain, Master Varney," said Foster, "my daughter shall not

enter our purposes or walk in our paths. They may suit me well enough,

who know how to repent of my misdoings; but I will not have my child's

soul committed to peril either for your pleasure or my lord's. I may

walk among snares and pitfalls myself, because I have discretion, but I

will not trust the poor lamb among them."

"Why, thou suspicious fool, I were as averse as thou art that thy

baby-faced girl should enter into my plans, or walk to hell at her

father's elbow. But indirectly thou mightst gain some intelligence of

her?"

"And so I did, Master Varney," answered Foster; "and she said her lady

called out upon the sickness of her father."

"Good!" replied Varney; "that is a hint worth catching, and I will work

upon it. But the country must be rid of this Tressilian. I would have

cumbered no man about the matter, for I hate him like strong poison--his

presence is hemlock to me--and this day I had been rid of him, but that

my foot slipped, when, to speak truth, had not thy comrade yonder come

to my aid, and held his hand, I should have known by this time whether

you and I have been treading the path to heaven or hell."

"And you can speak thus of such a risk!" said Foster. "You keep a stout

heart, Master Varney. For me, if I did not hope to live many years, and

to have time for the great work of repentance, I would not go forward

with you."

"Oh! thou shalt live as long as Methuselah," said Varney, "and amass

as much wealth as Solomon; and thou shalt repent so devoutly, that thy

repentance shall be more famous than thy villainy--and that is a bold

word. But for all this, Tressilian must be looked after. Thy ruffian

yonder is gone to dog him. It concerns our fortunes, Anthony."

"Ay, ay," said Foster sullenly, "this it is to be leagued with one who

knows not even so much of Scripture, as that the labourer is worthy of

his hire. I must, as usual, take all the trouble and risk."

"Risk! and what is the mighty risk, I pray you?" answered Varney. "This

fellow will come prowling again about your demesne or into your house,

and if you take him for a house-breaker or a park-breaker, is it not

most natural you should welcome him with cold steel or hot lead? Even

a mastiff will pull down those who come near his kennel; and who shall

blame him?"




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