Colonel Jack. Даниэль Дефо
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says he, «there was Sir Stephen Evans’s note in it for £ 300, and another goldsmith’s bill for about £ 12; and which is worse still for the gentleman, he had two foreign accepted bills in it for a great sum – I know not how much. I think one was a French bill for 1200 crowns».
«And who could it be?» says the gentleman.
«Nobody knows», says he; «but one of our room-keepers says he saw a couple of young rogues like that», pointing at me, «hanging about here, and that on a sudden they were both gone».
«Villains!» says he again. «Why, what can they do with them? They will be of no use to them. I suppose he went immediately and gave notice to prevent the payment».
«Yes», says the clerk, «he did; but the rogues were too nimble for him with the little bill of £ 12 odd money; they went and got the money for that, but all the rest are stopped. However, ‘tis an unspeakable damage to him for want of his money».
«Why, he should publish a reward for the encouragement of those that have them to bring them again; they would be glad to bring them, I warrant you».
«He has posted it up at the door that he will give £ 30 for them».
«Ay; but he should add that he will promise not to stop or give any trouble to the person that brings them».
«He has done that too», says he; «but I fear they won’t trust themselves to be honest, for fear he should break his word».
«Why? It is true he may break his word in that case, but no man should do so; for then no rogue will venture to bring home anything that is stolen, and so he would do an injury to others after him».
«I durst pawn my life for him, he would scorn it».
Thus far they discoursed of it, and then went off to something else. I heard it all, but did not know what to do a great while; but at last, watching the gentleman that went away, when he was gone I ran after him to have spoken to him, intending to have broke it to him, but he went hastily into a room or two full of people at the hither end of the long-room; and when I went to follow, the doorkeepers turned me back, and told me I must not go in there; so I went back, and loitered about near the man that sat behind the board, and hung about there till I found the clock struck twelve, and the room began to be thin of people; and at last he sat there writing, but nobody stood at the board before him, as there had all the rest of the morning. Then I came a little nearer, and stood close to the board, as I did before; when, looking up from his paper, and seeing me, says he to me, «You have been up and down here all this morning, sirrah! What do you want? You have some business that is not very good, I doubt».
«No, I han’t», said I.
«No? It is well if you han’t», says he. «Pray, what business can you have in the long-room, sir? You are no merchant».
«I would speak with you», said I.
«With me!» says he. «What have you to say to me?»
«I have something to say», said I, «if you will do me no harm for it».
«I do thee harm, child! What harm should I do thee?» and spoke very kindly.
«Won’t you indeed, sir?» said I.
«No, not I, child; I’ll do thee no harm. What is it? Do you know anything of the gentleman’s letter-case?»
I answered, but spoke softly that he could not hear me; so he gets over presently into the seat next him, and opens a place that was made to come out, and bade me come in to him; and I did.
Then he asked me again if I knew anything of the letter-case.
I spoke softly again, and said folks would hear him.
Then he whispered softly, and asked me again.
I told him I believed I did, but that, indeed, I had it not, nor had no hand in stealing it, but it was gotten into the hands of a boy that would have burned it, if it had not been for me; and that I heard him say that the gentleman would be glad to have them again, and give a good deal of money for them.
«I did say so, child», said he; «and if you can get them for him, he shall give you a good reward, no less than £ 30, as he has promised».
«But you said too, sir, to the gentleman just now», said I, «that you was sure he would not bring them into any harm that should bring them».
«No, you shall come to no harm. I will pass my word for it».
Boy. Nor shan’t they make me bring other people into trouble?
Gent. No; you shall not be asked the name of anybody, nor to tell who they are.
Boy. I am but a poor boy, and I would fain have the gentleman have his bills; and indeed I did not take them away, nor I han’t got them.
Gent. But can you tell how the gentleman shall have them?
Boy. If I can get them, I will bring them to you to-morrow morning.
Gent. Can you not do it to-night?
Boy. I believe I may if I knew where to come.
Gent. Come to my house, child.
Boy. I don’t know where you live.
Gent. Go along with me now, and you shall see.
So he carried me up into Tower Street, and showed me his house, and ordered me to come there at five o’clock at night; which accordingly I did, and carried the letter-case with me.
When I came the gentleman asked me if I had brought the book, as he called it.
«It is not a book», said I.
«No, the letter-case; that’s all one», says he.
«You promised me», said I, «you would not hurt me», and cried.
«Don’t be afraid, child», says he. «I will not hurt thee, poor boy; nobody shall hurt thee».
«Here it is», said I, and pulled it out.
He then brought in another gentleman, who, it seems, owned the letter-case, and asked him if that was it, and he said, «Yes».
Then he asked me if all the bills were in it.
I told him I heard him say there was one gone, but I believed there was all the rest.
«Why do you believe so?» says he.
«Because I heard the boy that I believe stole them say they were too big for him to meddle with».
The gentleman then that owned them said, «Where is the boy?»
Then the other gentleman put in, and said, «No, you must not ask him that; I passed my word that you should not, and that he should not be obliged to tell it to anybody».
«Well, child», says he, «you will let us see the letter-case opened, and whether the bills are in it?»
«Yes», says I.
Then the first gentleman said, «How many bills were there in it?»
«Only three», says he. «Besides the bill of £ 12, 10s., there was Sir Stephen Evans’s note for £ 300 and two foreign bills».
«Well, then, if they are in the letter-case, the boy shall have £ 30, shall he not?» «Yes», says the gentleman; «he shall have it very freely».
«Come, then, child», says he, «let me open it».
So I gave it him, and he opened it, and there were all three bills, and several other papers, fair and safe, nothing defaced or diminished; and the gentleman said, «All is right».
Then said the first man, «Then I am security to the poor boy for the money». «Well, but», says the gentleman, «the rogues have got the £ 12, 10s.; they ought to reckon that as part of the £ 30». Had he asked me, I should have consented to it at first word; but the first man stood my friend. «Nay», says he, «it was since you knew that the £ 12, 10s. was received that you offered £ 30 for the other bills, and published it by the crier, and posted