Part 31 (1/2)
”I wonder howto hi when he reached the old ates, went into the study, and there found Mike and their tutor waiting
Both lads tried very hard to keep their discovery out of their , but tried in vain There it was constantly, and translated itself into Latin, conjugated and declined itself, and then becaebraic equations, with both
Mr Deane bore all very patiently, though, and a reproachful word or two about inattention and condensation of thought upon study was all that escaped his came to a kind of climax, for Mike suddenly looked across the table at the tutor, and said quickly:--
”I say, Mr Deane!”
The tutor looked up at once
”I want to ask you a question in--in--soested the tutor
”N-no,” said Mike: ”I think it h, what you would call it”
”Well: let reat store of s to?”
”To the people who put it there, of course” Vince's eyes almost blazed as he turned them upon the questioner
”Yes,” continued Mike; ”but suppose there were no people left who put it there, and they had all died, perhaps a hundred years ago?”
”Oh, then,” said the tutor thoughtfully, ”I should think it would belong to the people upon whose ground it was discovered,--or no: I fancy it would be what is called 'treasure trove,' and go to the crown”
”Crown--crown? What, to a public-house?”
”No, no, htfully ”Is that all?”
”Yes, sir; that's all”
”Well, then, wasn't it rather a foolish question to ask, just in thea great deal of tiet on; but they did not, for Mike was conscious of being kicked twice, and Vince wasup a tre out the discovery they had made
It came to words as soon as the lessons were over, and Mike took his cap to accompany Vince part of the way home, and make their plans for the afternoon
”I couldn't help it--'pon my word I couldn't,” cried Mike ”I felt like that classic chap, as obliged to whisper secrets to the water, and that I must speak about that stuff there to soo and talk to your father about it, and our secret place will be at an end Why, we ht have kept it all quiet for years!”
”So we can now I put it so that old Deane shouldn't understand I say, if he's right we can't clai”
”I suppose so,” said Vince
”Never mind: we'll keep it till he wants it Hullo! what's old Lobster doing there?”
Vince turned in the direction pointed out; and, sure enough, there was Carnach junior sunning hih the grass