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Of the King’s Treasure

was a reptile of parts and spirits, was Timothy, and no doubt he saw there was nothing more to be said that bout. So he held his tongue; he never was one to waste his time, was Grubbe.

But I was not going to part like that. I would have an oath out of him somehow.

“’Tis a pity,” I said, turning to go, “that the rogues got away with the gold.”

“Ay, ’tis a pity,” said the Justice.

“I wish,” says I, “that I knew where ’twas hid—in some patch of wood, maybe.” The Justice nodded, but Timothy looked up suddenly, a flash of intelligence lit his eyes, and he ground his teeth fiercely and muttered, giving me a bloody look. I could not refrain from laughing at that. “Well,” says I, “’tis a comfort to know that one rogue at least will take no share in the plunder.” The Justice laughed too, and they all laughed; and upon that I got out of the house, roaring with laughter. For I had left Timothy with that news to spend a very discomfortable night.

But as for me, I was in high feather, and after patching up my wound, which the

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