try none of your larks hon me, Mr. Chisholm. You can't take a
rise hout of this kid, hinnercent has he looks."

"But, I tell you she has not. Who do you think that girl was you brought
home Talfourd's place?"

"Wy, Miss Do Please us, of course; 'oo else could it be?"

Mr. Chisholm laughed loud and long, and at last ejaculated: "Miss Du
Plessis! Oh, but you're a green hand, Rawdon, to take Martha Baggs for
her; the daughter of old Baggs, in the revenue service. Hope you didn't
give your friends away, Rawdon?"

"You think you're pretty clever, Mr. Chisholm, comin' hover me with your
Marther Baggses. Hold Hirish knows Miss Do Please-us, I should say, and
wouldn't go takin' no Marther Baggs for 'er."

"Mr. Rawdon," interposed the Squire, "I'll thank you to speak more
respectfully of my father-in-law; as good a man, I judge, as yourself."

"No hoffence, Squire; but I wish you'd hask the hold gent to come 'ere
and shut up this 'ere bailiff's mouth with 'is Marther Baggs."

Mr. Terry, who preferred the society of the kitchen to that of the
parlour, was produced, and, on being asked if the lady with Mr. Rawdon
was Miss Du Plessis, answered that his "sight was gettin' bad, an' the
sinse av hairin' too, an' if it wor Miss Jewplesshy, she had changed her
vice intoirely, an' got to be cruel rough an' common in her ways. Av
coorse, it moight have been the young misthress; but Talfer's was nigh
to han', an' it was aisy axin'."

A horrible suspicion came over the Grinstun man, and paled his rubicund
visage. He darted up to his room, and speedily re-appeared with knapsack
on back and staff in hand, ready for the road. Mr. Carruthers pressed
him to stay at least for dinner, but he was resolved to solve the
mystery by a visit to the Talfourds, and said that, if Mr. Chisholm was
right, he would not be back for a while. His retreating figure was
watched with positive pleasure by most of the company, and with still
greater satisfaction by the small party returning from the Anglican
service.

"What garred ye fricht Rawdon awa, Mr. Chisholm?" asked the Squire.

"I wanted to eat my dinner comfortably," replied the detective, putting
beard and moustache in his pocket, when all the company, except the
dominie who knew, cried out, "it's Mr. Nash."

"To think of you deceiving me," exclaimed Mr. Carruthers, "and me a
justice of the peace. I've a thocht to bring you up for conspiracy."

"There can be no conspiracy without at least two p