The Soldier's Wife — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE committee of five be appointed to Pay the matter; and when I say a committee,|/far as the Oakleigh post-ottice. all investigate| London three days age. It has been traced as That letter gentlemen, [ mean that three is to form a quo-|contained nothing but a five-pound note, with- rumi—leastways, that they shall be eligible tojout the slightest information from whom it deliberate. And I beg to propose farther, that}came. It has not been delivered tome. Where our respected friend Mr. Beagley be one of the/is it, sir?” eid committee; and when | say Mr. Beagley, i mean a gentleman which is k1 own to you ail)fecting the utmost surprise. “A letter, Sir Archibald?” echoed Bates, af- “You had all —because you all know him—a gentleman|your letters, sir, sent up regularly yesterday whose wirtues is emblazo.ed in the hearts of |and to-day, as usual; and so that one must ”? all present—a gentlenan—— This magnificent speech, during the delivery have been amongst them.” “No, Mr. Bates—it was not,” replied the of which Mr. Beagley sat in modest contusion, | Baronet, looking as if he meant to penetrate was interrupted by the sounds of an equipage dashing up to the tront of the Royal Gak ; and had it not been for this incident, heaven alone ean tell how many more compliments Mr. Sheepwash would have passed upon his honor- able friend Mr. Beagley. Bushell rushed from the room; and Bates, always excessively cu- rious and inquisitive, sprang from his seat, raised the blind, and peeped irom the window. “it’'sSir Archibald’s carriage!” he ejaculated. “T wonder what he can want down here at ten o'clock in the evening.” Mr. Rosser, who ‘had not opened his lips throughout the preceding colloyuy on the part of the company, laid down his pipe—emptied his quart-pot—and then wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his coat. Almost immediately aiterwards, Bushell returned to the room, say- ing, “ Mr. Rosser, Sir Archibald Redburn is de- sirous of speaking to you.” The individual thus addressed,—and who had evidently expected the summons the mo- ment he learnt from Bates’s ejaculation whose the equipage was,—rose from his seat, and is- sued trom the parlor, Bushell showing him the way to the room where Sir Archibald Redburn was waiting. Ira few moments the landlord re-appeareu, aua resumed his seat and his pipe. “Who ean this Mr. Rosser be?” exclaimed Mr. Judkins, the affair of Bates and the post- office being for the instant laid aside. “ Per- haps he is come to bid for the Burnside Farm, that fell wacant t’other day. You must know, Mr. Davis ?” “It's not that, I’m sure,” responded the bailiff, “for the farm was let yesterday. I know no more who this Mr. Rosser is than you do; but I am certain that he has not come to Oakleigh to be a tenant of the Baronet’s—for, if so, I should have been sure to hear of it.” “Then who can he be!” eried Mr. Judkins. The door now opened again; and Sir Archi- the starveling barber through and through with his glances. “ihe number of the note was 21795.” “ Hh—what?” suddenly ejaculated the tailor: and pulling out an old greasy pocket-book, he drew forth, from amidst a motley assemblage of cloth and waistcoat patterns, measures, and dirty scraps of memoranda, a bank-note at which he glanced tor a moment. ‘“ Why, here itis!) Number 21795—the very identical one! And it was you, Bates, that paid it to me for the suit of clothes you’ve got on your back. If the note’s a stolen one, give me back the clothes: Pll strip ’em off you. Live pounds! why, it’s enough to ruin me quite, and send me on the parish !” Sir Archibald’s aeccusation—the barber’s ready denial—and the tailor’s excitement and volubility, ail combined to produce an immense sensation in the little parlor,of the Royal Oak. But we should observe that Mr. Rosser leant calmly with his back against the door, and with his hands in his pockets, appearing to be look- ing up at the ceilling—though in reality he had his twinkling eyes fixed upon Bates. The bar- ber himself was confounded by the exposure so suddenly made by the tailor, who, he had doubtless flattered himself, had omitted to ob- serve the number of the bank-note. “ Now, ofticer, do your duty!” said Sir Archi- bald, in a stern voice. Thereupon Mr. Rosser advanced towards the barber; and seizing him by the collar, said, “You are my prisoner!” “For God’s sake, Sir Archibald—good, kind Sir Archibald—don’t do this!” almost shrieked forth the wretched Bates, his effrontery com- pletely abandoning him. “It will be the ruin of nie!” “Silence, sir! you are a villain!” ejaculated the Baronet. “It was through me you ob- tained the post-office—and you have scanda- bald Redburn made his appearance, closely fo]-|jlously violated your trust. Officer, away with lowed by Mr. Rosser. All the company laid/him! My carriage is at your service to conve dewu their pipes, and rose from their seats out of | your prisoner across to the jail at Middleton. respect to the great man, who, coudescendingly waving his hand, said, “ Pray, take your chairs —don’t let me disturb you. Ah! Davis—are you here? Why, I thought you never came to the Oak of an evening?” added Sir Archibald, with a smile. “1 am not happy at home, sir,” was the res- ponse bitterly given. “So much the worse,” observed the Baronet: |letter I posted myself in London to then as his looks suddenly became stern andj Archibald, and which contained the ban severe, he bent his eyes upon the barber, say- ing, “Mr. Bates, a letter was posted .o me :n|that which the tailor had “First and foremost, if you please, Sir Archi- bald, we will search the fellow,” said Mr. Pos- ser: and thereupon he plunged his hands into the barber’s pockets, the unhappy man himeelf not offering the shghtest resistance. ‘“ What have we here?” continued the officer, drawing forth an envelope. “Why, actually the fool has not had the precaution to destroy the ver ie Sir -note |” If any evidence were wanting in addition te afforded, it was now GOMiGDooks (E(O)