Part 9 (1/2)
hanging!” piped a thinner voice.
”Hold thy complaints, Old Mortification,” put in a speaker that I recogniz'd for Black d.i.c.k; ”sure the pretty maid upstairs is tender game. Hark how they sing!”
And indeed the threatened folk upstairs were singing their catch very choicely, with a girl's clear voice to lead them---
”Comment dit papa --Margoton, ma mie?”
”Heathen language, to be sure,” said the thin voice again, as the chorus ceased: ”thinks I to mysel' 'they be but Papisters,' an' my doubting mind is mightily reconcil'd to manslaughter.”
”I don't like beginning 'ithout the Cap'n,” observed Black d.i.c.k: ”though I doubt something has miscarried. Else, how did that young spark ride in upon the mare?”
”An' that's what thy question should ha' been, d.i.c.k, with a pistol to his skull.”
”He'll keep till the morrow.”
”We'll give Settle half-an-hour more,” said the landlord: ”Mary!” he push'd open the hatch, so that I had barely time to duck my head out of view, ”fetch in the punch, girl. How did'st leave the young man i' the loft?'
”Asleep, or nearly,” answer'd Mary--
”Who hang'd hersel' in her gar-ters, All for the love o' man--”
”--Anon, anon, master: wait only till I get the kettle on the boil.”
The hatch was slipp'd to again. I stood up and made a step toward the girl.
”How many are they?” I ask'd, jerking a finger in the direction of the parlor.
”A dozen all but one.”
”Where is the foreign guests' room?”
”Left hand, on the first landing.”
”The staircase?”
”Just outside the door.”
”Then sing--go on singing for your life.”
”But--”
”Sing!”
”Dear heart, they'll murder thee! Oh! for pity's sake, let go my wrist---
”'Lament, ye maids an' darters--'”
I stole to the door and peep'd out. A lantern hung in the pa.s.sage, and showed the staircase directly in front of me. I stay'd for a moment to pull off my boots, and, holding them in my left hand, crept up the stairs. In the kitchen, the girl was singing and clattering the gla.s.ses together. Behind the door, at the head of the stairs, I heard voices talking. I slipp'd on my boots again and tapp'd on the panel.
”Come in!”