?
Werry good! Now, 'ow did C. or Number Two, 'appen to give me that
theer letter? I'll tell you. Ven Number Vun and Number Two, B. and C.,
vent down to Hawkhurst, I vent down to Hawkhurst. They put up at the
'Qveen's 'ead,' so I 'angs about the 'Qveen's 'ead,'--offers myself
as groom--I'm 'andy vith an 'orse--got in the 'abit o' doing odd
jobs for Number Vun and Number Two, and, last night, Number Two
gives me that theer letter to deliver, and werry pertickler 'e vas
as I should give it into your werry own daddle, 'e also gives me a
guinea and tells as 'ow 'e don't vant me no more, and them's the
circumstances, sir."
"But," said Barnabas in frowning perplexity, "I don't understand.
How did he get hold of the letter?"
"Lord, sir, 'ow do I know that? But get it 'e did--'e likewise broke
the seal."
"But--why?"
"Vell now, first, it's a love-letter, ain't it?"
"Why--I--"
"Werry good! Now, sir, might that theer letter be making a
app'intment--come?"
"Yes, an appointment for to-morrow evening."
"Ah! In a nice, qviet, lonely place--say a vood?"
"Yes, at a very lonely place called Oakshott's Barn."
"Come, that's better and better!" nodded Mr.
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