"Ah! dear life!" continued the innkeeper, unflinchingly, "and there be Mounseer Delarousse, too, thankful for what I done for him. It did vex me tarrible to mizzle un; but a word can put that right, and let un know the true dwellin’ o’ that coorious feller Robinson. In course his grudge agen Robinson bean’t nothing to I, but he do seem tarrible sour and rampageous. Howsomever, let every man fight his own battles. Now I’ll go home-along, and I wish ’ee well, Maister." He rose, took his hat, and moved towards the door. Trevanion looked after him for a moment irresolutely, then stretched his hand towards the bell-rope. "Stay, Doubledick," he said, "you must take a thimbleful before you go." "Not for me, Maister," replied the innkeeper, with a virtuous expression of countenance. "Nonsense, man. It won’t poison you. You have read me quite wrongly, my friend. Did ever a man take offence so easily! You’ve come badly out of my little test, but I’ll overlook it. I’ve a deal more patience than you.... Susan, bring the decanter and glasses. Hot, Doubledick?" "Well, I don’t mind if it be, this chilly night. But ’tis gettin’ latish; it must be only a nibleykin, Maister." "Now, Doubledick," said Trevanion, as they sipped their liquor, "I’m not the man to refuse to help a friend, even if he shows himself only a fair-weather friend after all." "I knowed it," cried Doubledick heartily. "A little small voice inside telled me ye were only a-tryin’ me, and ’ud show yerself in yer natural true colour at last. Well, Maister, ten pound won’t do it; no, King’s servants do hev high notions, be-jowned to ’em. Twenty? I be afeard it wouldn’ go far. ’Tis well to do a thing handsome when ’tis to be done. Fifty? Iss, a man can do summat wi’ fifty. Fifty pound ’ll keep a many tongues quiet, and I’ll be dazed if I don’t snap my fingers at justices, sheriffs, hangmen, and constables, if I do hev fifty pound to my hand." Trevanion rose and went to a cabinet in a corner of the room. Unlocking it, he opened a drawer, standing with his back to Doubledick. There was a sound of rustling paper. "’Tis a monstrous sum," he said, half turning. "Ah, ’tis, to be sure," said Doubledick feelingly, "but King’s officers do hev’ a tarrible big swaller." "Well, here you are," said Trevanion, recrossing the room. "I’m not the man to refuse a friend." "So ye said afore. Thank ’ee. ’Tis atween us two, in course; my mouth is shet. But there’s another thing, Maister. Did ’ee know as old Joe and young Dick brought a heap o’ silks and satins out o’ the old mine?" "The deuce they did!" cried Trevanion in astonishment. "Where did they get them from?" "That I can’t say. But old mine do belong to ’ee, surely." "It does. Whatever they have found is my property. How do you know this, Doubledick?" "The little small birds, Maister. Well, I’ve telled ’ee for yer good." "I’ll not forget it. Egad, they shall hear from me."