“Promised you! I said I’d ask for you. I’ll get them if you’ll do what I want for me.” “Not a farthing more money, Master Eddy; it’s no use speaking. To mention it even, would be as much as my place is worth.” “You fool! who’s talking of money?” said Eddy. They mounted up slowly till they came to a little green knoll, a sort of oasis in the waste of the heather. “There’s nobody can listen here,” he said. “I’ve brought you a payment on account, Johnson. Look here, if you’ll get him to take this, and wait for the rest till I can get it----” “I daren’t make such a proposal, Master Eddy; he’ll have all or none--the whole sum, every penny--or he’ll write and expose you.” “Hold your tongue, I say. Look at it first and see--it’s as good as sovereigns counted out upon the table--it’s not like a bill or that sort----” “You don’t suppose he’d take a bill of _you_!” “You needn’t be so dead sarcastic,” said Eddy. “He’s had many a worse fellow than me to deal with. Look here, Johnson, a hundred pounds down--or perhaps I could make it a hundred and fifty. It’s a pity to refuse good money. If anything were to happen to me to-morrow; if you were to put some shot into me, for instance, on Friday on the moor----” “Do you mean?” cried Johnson, his unwholesome white face lighting up with pleasure. “I can’t do what you want, Mr. Eddy, for it don’t depend upon me: but I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me, man. It’s the thing I’ve wished most.” “And do you think,” said Eddy, “I’m going to do that for nothing? Not such a fool, my fine fellow. A hundred and fifty, Johnson--down; and as good as gold paid over the counter. Wire him that it’s an offer, and that you’ll be able to push business among the swells you will meet. I can introduce you to half the bigwigs about----, and if you don’t make something out of them.--But I must have that confounded paper back.” “I don’t wonder that you say so; but it’s no use speaking. If I----it depended upon me! and Master Eddy, if I can do you a good turn another time I will. You never can tell when you may want a good turn.” “I want this good turn--that confounded bit of paper, and a little ease of my life. Look here!--and there’s more where that came from.”