Well, the Jew, when he reached the agent's quarters, rolled on to his
knees, and whined so long, beating down the price, that 'twas well
after four o'clock before he counted out the five guineas which was
the least sum Captain Sharpland would hear of. My grandfather
counted them into his pocket, scarcely believing his good fortune.
He stayed behind after the creature had slunk away out of the room--
to have a laugh with the captain, who very heartily offered him a
glass of grog upon the top of it; and with that it came over him how
he was deceiving this good man. He couldn't accept the drink; he
could scarcely muster up face to say "Good-night, sir, and thank
you," and if he, too, as he went out, didn't carry his tail between
his legs, I doubt if he felt much better satisfied with himself than
did Mr Nathan.

'But just outside the gate he found something to distract his mind.
The soldiers, in a rage at being made to look foolish, had been
waiting there for Mr Nathan with their belts; and my grandfather
arrived in time to hear the wretched man howling for mercy, as they
chevied him away over the moor under the lee of North Hessary and
into the dusk.

'He stood and listened for a minute or so, but by-and-by there was an
end of the yells, and the soldiers came strolling back, laughing
together, as men who had taken a pleasant little revenge but not
pushed it too far. So he turned his face for home, and reached it a
little after nightfall; and there he turned out his pocket in front
of my grandmother, who could not believe a word of the tale until she
had handled each guinea separately. Then she, too, flung her apron
over her head, and laughed till she was weak. But my grandfather
wanted to know if by rights he oughtn't to share the money with the
prisoner.

'My grandmother couldn't make up her mind about this, and advised him
to sleep on it. The young man (she said) had faithfully kept his bed
all day, but was growing resty. So my grandfather, before supping,
took a light and went upstairs to the garret.

'"We've kept the scent wide to-day," he reported, very cheerful-like.
"But you'll have to lie still for a while yet."

'"Lyin' here puts a strain on a man," the lad grumbled. "Couldn't I
take a turn in the fields, now that dark has fallen? I'd promise not
to stray far from the house."

'"That's a notion," my grandfather agreed. "I once had to lie in bed
two days with a quinsy, and I hated it." He consid