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Barnaby； shook his head and frowned。
‘Hush！’ cried Barnaby。
‘Ah！ Do hush about that； Muster Gashford；’ said the hangman
in a low voice； ‘pop’lar prejudices—you always forget—well；
Barnaby； my lad； what’s the matter？’
‘I hear him coming；’ he answered： ‘Hark！ Do you mark that？
That’s his foot！ Bless you； I know his step； and his dog’s too。
Tramp； tramp； pit…pat； on they come together； and； ha ha ha！—and
here they are！’ he cried； joyfully welcoming Hugh with both hands；
and then patting him fondly on the back； as if instead of being the
rough companion he was； he had been one of the most
prepossessing of men。 ‘Here he is； and safe too！ I am glad to see
him back again； old Hugh！’
‘I’m a Turk if he don’t give me a warmer welcome always than
any man of sense；’ said Hugh； shaking hands with him with a kind
of ferocious friendship； strange enough to see。 ‘How are you； boy？’
‘Hearty！’ cried Barnaby； waving his hat。 ‘Ha ha ha！ And merrry
too； Hugh！ And ready to do anything for the good cause； and the
right； and to help the kind； mild； pale…faced gentleman—the lord
they used so ill—eh； Hugh？’
‘Ay！’ returned his friend； dropping his hand； and looking at
Gashford for an instant with a changed expression before he spoke
to him。 ‘Good day； master！’
‘And good day to you；’ replied the secretary； nursing his leg。
‘And many good days—whole years of them； I hope。 You are
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heated。’
‘So would you have been； master；’ said Hugh； wiping his face； ‘if
you’d been running here as fast as I have。’
‘You know the news； then？ Yes； I supposed you would have
heard it。’
‘News！ what news？’
‘You don’t？’ cried Gashford； raising his eyebrows with an
exclamation of surprise。 ‘Dear me！ Come； then I AM the first to
make you acquainted with your distinguished position； after all。
Do you see the King’s Arms a…top？’ he smilingly asked； as he took
a large paper from his pocket； unfolded it； and held it out for
Hugh’s inspection。
‘Well！’ said Hugh。 ‘What’s that to me？’
‘Much。 A great deal；’ replied the secretary。 ‘Read it。’
‘I told you； the first time I saw you； that I couldn’t read；’ said
Hugh； impatiently。 ‘What in the Devil’s name’s inside of it？’
‘It is a proclamation from the King in Council；’ said Gashford；
‘dated to…day； and offering a reward of five hundred pounds—five
hundred pounds is a great deal of money； and a large temptation
to some people—to any one who will discover the person or
persons most active in demolishing those chapels on Saturday
night。’
‘Is that all？’ cried Hugh； with an indifferent air。 ‘I knew of that。’
‘Truly I might have known you did；’ said Gashford； smiling； and
folding up the document again。 ‘Your friend； I might have
guessed—indeed I did guess—was sure to tell you。’
‘My friend！’ stammered Hugh； with an unsuccessful effort to
appear surprised。 ‘What friend？’
‘Tut tut—do you suppose I don’t know where you have been？’
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retorted Gashford； rubbing his hands； and beating the back of one
on the palm of the other； and looking at him with a cunning eye。
‘How dull you think me！ Shall I say his name？’
‘No；’ said Hugh； with a hasty glance towards Dennis。
‘You have also heard from him； no doubt；’ resumed the
secretary； after a moment’s pause； ‘that the rioters who have been
taken （poor fellows） are committed for trial； and that some very
active witnesses have had the temerity to appear against them。
Among others—’ and here he clenched his teeth； as if he would
suppress by force some violent words that rose upon his tongue；
and spoke very slowly。 ‘Among others； a gentleman who saw the
work going on in Warwick Street； a Catholic gentleman； one
Haredale。’
Hugh would have prevented his uttering the word； but it was
out already。 Hearing the name； Barnaby turned swiftly round。
‘Duty； duty； bold Barnaby！’ cried Hugh； assuming his wildest
and most rapid manner； and thrusting into his hand his staff and
flag which leant against the wall。 ‘Mount guard without loss of
time； for we are off upon our expedition。 Up； Dennis； and get
ready！ Take care that no one turns the straw upon my bed； brave
Barnaby； we know what’s underneath it—eh？ Now； master； quick！
What you have to say； say speedily； for the little captain and a
cluster of ’em are in the fields； and only waiting for us。 Sharp’s the
word； and strike’s the action。 Quick！’
Barnaby was not proof against this bustle and despatch。 The
look of mingled astonishment and anger which had appeared in
his face when he turned towards them； faded from it as the words
passed from his memory； like breath from a polished mirror； and
grasping the weapon which Hugh forced upon him； he proudly
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took his station at the door； beyond their hearing。
‘You might have spoiled our plans； master；’ said Hugh。 ‘You；
too； of all men！’
‘Who would have supposed that he would be so quick？’ urged
Gashford。
‘He’s as quick sometimes—I don’t mean with his hands； for that
you know； but with his head—as you or any man；’ said Hugh。
‘Dennis； it’s time we were going； they’re waiting for us； I came to
tell you。 Reach me my stick and belt。 Here！ Lend a hand； master。
Fling this over my shoulder； and buckle it behind； will you？’
‘Brisk as ever！’ said the secretary； adjusting it for him as he
desired。
‘A man need be brisk to…day； there’s brisk work a…foot。’
‘There is； is th