“Hold your tongue, you puppy!” was the only acknowledgment which the speaker received for this corroboration of the trusty Oliver’s speech: then turning again to Oliver, Mr. Martindale continued: “So your master is grown mightily merciful to his horses all on a sudden; and was he also afraid that his travelling chariot would be tired of the long journey? Was it too far for the carriage to travel?” “I guess it was rather too far for his carriage to go from home,” replied the officer. “Fellow!” cried Mr. Martindale, “I want none of your fool’s prate.” “Perhaps not,” replied the man; “you seem to have enough of your own.” “Silence, you puppy! do you know who you are speaking to? I will not put up with this insolence in my own house. This is my own house; I built it: every article in it is mine.” “I beg your pardon, sir,” replied the officer, “I did not know you: but I will immediately explain.…” “If you will have the goodness, sir, to step this way,” interrupted Oliver, “perhaps my master may be returned by this time. I will tell you all the particulars.” Mr. Martindale had kept this fellow a long while in his employment, and had estimated his fidelity by his treachery, forgetting that they who have a double game to play make a double profit upon it; for while the old gentleman had been bribing him to betray the young one, the young one had been paying him to deceive the old one: so that by this double diplomacy Oliver had become, to use a phrase of Dr. Johnson’s, “a very pretty rascal.” By deceiving both parties he had injured both; but they had only themselves to thank for it. Had they been simple enough to follow the old maxim, that honesty is the best policy, they would both have gained their ends more effectually: the elder Martindale would have experienced from the younger greater deference and confidence, and the younger Martindale would have experienced from the elder a greater degree of liberality. On the present occasion, it never for a moment entered the mind of the old gentleman that the sheriffs’ officers could be at Brigland Abbey on any serious professional engagement. It may indeed be asked, if he did not think that, what was he thinking of? What, indeed! That is a question which he himself could not answer. Having however no suspicion of what was really the case, he was the more easily drawn away by the crafty Oliver from the impending explanation which was threatened by the officer.