Part 54 (1/2)
”Suppose you was to die, what then?”
”There would be n.o.body to disturb my uncle in the possession of his property.”
”He wouldn't cry much if you was to die.”
”What do you mean?” asked Gilbert, unpleasantly impressed by the man's tone.
”He wants you dead--that's the long and short of it.”
”I can't believe it,” said Gilbert, shuddering. ”You can have no cause to say this. He can't be so wicked.”
”Look here, young one,” said Hugh, ”I'll tell you a secret. You take me for a robber, don't you?”
”Yes.”
”In course you do. Now I'm going to surprise you. My stopping your mouth to-day was all a put-up job.”
”You don't mean that my uncle engaged you to do it?”
”Yes, I do.”
”What was his object?”
”He don't mean to come back for you. He wants me to kill you.”
”You don't mean that?” said Gilbert, horror-struck.
”Yes, I do. He's goin' to give me a thousand dollars.”
”And you agreed to do it?”
”Yes, I agreed to do it.”
”Would you stain your hands with murder for a thousand dollars?” asked Gilbert, solemnly.
”What can I do? I'm a poor man. Fortune has gone agin me all my life.
There ain't no other way I can get money. If I was well off I wouldn't do it.”
”Good Heaven! To think my uncle should be capable of such wickedness.”
”It's just as bad for him, ain't it? He hires me to kill you for the sake of money. What's the odds?”
”He is worse than you. He knows that I would not strip him of everything, even if I succeed.”
”What's your chances, young one? Have you got a good case?”
”If I hadn't, he wouldn't conspire for my death.”
”That's so. Now, young chap, shall I kill you or not?”