Part 33 (1/2)
”Well, who is Mr. Roger? What is he like?”
”He is my master's servant, sir; and he wears a patch over his eye; and stutters a little in his speech.”
These kinds of details were plainly beyond a frightened lad's power of invention, and Lackington was more satisfied.
”And what was the message that you were to give to the folk and the priest?”
”Please, sir, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'”
This was such a queer answer that Lackington gave an incredulous exclamation.
”It is probably true,” said Sir Francis, without looking up from his letters; ”I have come across the same kind of cypher, at least once before.”
”Thank you, sir,” said the agent. ”And now, my boy, tell me this. How did you know what it meant?”
”Please, sir,” said the lad, a little encouraged by the kinder tone, ”I have noticed that twice before when Mr. Roger could not go, and I was sent with the same message, all the folks and the priest came on the next Sunday; and I think that it means that all is safe, and that they can come.”
”You are a sharp lad,” said the spy approvingly. ”I am satisfied with you.”
”Then, sir, may I go home?” asked the boy with hopeful entreaty in his voice.
”Nay, nay,” said the other, ”I have not done with you yet. Answer me some more questions. Why did you not go to the priest first?”
”Because I was bidden to go to him last,” said the boy. ”If I had been to all the other houses by five o'clock last night, then I was to meet the priest at Papists' Corner in Paul's Church. But if I had not done them--as I had not,--then I was to see the priest to-night at the same place.”
Lackington mused a moment.
”What is the priest's name?” he asked.
”Please, sir, Mr. Arthur Oldham.”
The agent gave a sudden start and a keen glance at the boy, and then smiled to himself; then he meditated, and bit his nails once or twice.
”And when was Mr. Roger taken ill?”
”He slipped down at the door of his lodging and hurt his foot, at dinner-time yesterday; and he could not walk.”
”His lodging? Then he does not sleep in the house?”
”No sir; he sleeps in Stafford Alley, round the corner.”
”And where do you live?”
”Please, sir, I go home to my mother nearly every night; but not always.”
”And where does your mother live?”
”Please, sir, at 4 Bell's Lane.”