"Yes; I know by your face you have. You can’t cheat me, Mrs. Shelfer. Never mind, if you have not mentioned my name." It never struck me that Conrad would be frightened at my money. "No, never, Miss, as I hope to be saved." And she crossed herself, which I had never seen her do. "Come, Mrs. Shelfer, now; I’ve got some pretty little trifles for you in this bag." She jumped with pleasure; she was so fond of knick-knacks: then she put her fingers on her lips and went to the door and listened. Presently she came back with a mysterious air. "Pray, Miss, as you are so very kind, excuse my taking the liberty, but would you mind giving Judy the bag in his paws? no fear of them getting it there." "Why, what on earth is the matter? Why didn’t you let me in? Who are those nasty men?" "Oh, it’s nothing, Miss; nothing at all to speak of: only they knocks my sticks so in making the inwentory, and the one they made last time, and the time before, would do every bit as well. But they charges for it, every time, the rogues--and they dare to put the chairs down lackered and American cloth, good, morocco as ever was, and as if Miss Minto--" "Now, Mrs. Shelfer, tell me in two words what it means. Is it a sale?" "No, no, Miss, I should hope not; only an execution, and them two men are the bailiffs; civil tongues enough, and very good judges of porter and periwinkles. They’re the ones as come last time; but I’d sooner have the old ones, jolly fellows they were, and knew how to wink both eyes. But that cross-eyed thief--" "And have they got my things, Mrs. Shelfer?" "No, Miss; only what few was in the bedroom; they daren’t come here for Judy. It was as much as their lives were worth. If I had known they was coming, I’d have had him at the front door, but they locked him in as soon as he got a piece out of the other fellow’s leg. Bless me, how he did holloa!" "Do you mean to say, Mrs. Shelfer, that they have taken possession of my things in my bedroom?" "To be sure, Miss. I said they was yours, and of course they wouldn’t believe me, and the folding door was shut, but Judy would have broken it down only they put the bedstead again it. Gracious me! I never see a dog take on so in all my life! He was like a roaring lion." "I should rather hope so. Giudice, I commend you; and I’ve a great mind to let you out, and what is more, I will if they don’t give me back my things. Surely, Mrs. Shelfer, they have no right to my property." "Well, so I say, Miss; because it isn’t for the landlord; but they won’t believe they are yours." "If they don’t believe me pretty soon, Giudice shall convince them. He is a judge you know, and I’ve no idea of robbery any more than he has. But who is doing all this, and why do you seem so unconcerned about it? I should cry my eyes out, I am sure."