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He set himself to find out, for the man might prove to be a messenger between those two. 'You call at the Temple late, he remarked, with a lumbering show of ease. 'Wish I may die, cried Mr Riderhood, with a hoarse laugh, 'if I warn't a goin' to say the self-same words to you, T'otherest Governor! 'It chanced so with me, said Bradley, looking disconcertedly about him.
Approaching nearer and nearer, the bargeman became Bradley Headstone, in rough water-side second-hand clothing. 'Wish I may die, said Riderhood, smiting his right leg, and laughing, as he sat on the grass, 'if you ain't ha' been a imitating me, T'otherest governor! Never thought myself so good-looking afore!
Riderhood began to have an air of being better at a guess than Bradley owned to being. 'I have been so long in want of rest, said the schoolmaster, 'that with your leave I'll lie down again. 'And welcome, T'otherest! was the hospitable answer of his host. He had laid himself down without waiting for it, and he remained upon the bed until the sun was low.
And when you mention the middle of the night, T'otherest Governor, growled Mr Riderhood, winding up his monotonous summary of his wrongs, 'throw your eye on this here bundle under my arm, and bear in mind that I'm a walking back to my Lock, and that the Temple laid upon my line of road.
In due course he had let the barge through and was alone again, looking to the closing of his gates, when Bradley Headstone appeared before him, standing on the brink of the Lock. 'Halloa! said Riderhood. 'Back a' ready, T'otherest? 'He has put up for the night, at an Angler's Inn, was the fatigued and hoarse reply. 'He goes on, up the river, at six in the morning.
'Did you Bradley tried to ask it quietly; but, do what he might with his voice, he could not subdue his face; 'did you ever see them together? 'I see 'em together, T'otherest Governor, on the very day when Gaffer was towed ashore.
'T'otherest! he said, hoarsely, as he bent across the table to touch his arm. 'The news has gone down the river afore you. 'What news? 'Who do you think, said Riderhood, with a hitch of his head, as if he disdainfully jerked the feint away, 'picked up the body? Guess. 'I am not good at guessing anything. 'She did. Hooroar! You had him there agin. She did.
I know something more than your name about you; I knew something about Gaffer Hexam. When did you last set eyes upon his daughter? 'When did I last set eyes upon his daughter, T'otherest Governor? repeated Mr Riderhood, growing intentionally slower of comprehension as the other quickened in his speech. 'Yes. Not to speak to her. To see her anywhere?
But he must have the power of making himself invisible before he can shake Me off. Riderhood stopped. 'If you don't get disapinted agin, T'otherest, maybe you'll put up at the Lock-house when you come back? 'I will. Riderhood nodded, and the figure of the bargeman went its way along the soft turf by the side of the towing-path, keeping near the hedge and moving quickly.
Rogue Riderhood was soon roused, and soon undrew the bolt and let him in. 'Why, T'otherest, I thought you had been and got lost! Two nights away! I a'most believed as you'd giv' me the slip, and I had as good as half a mind for to advertise you in the newspapers to come for'ard. Bradley's face turned so dark on this hint, that Riderhood deemed it expedient to soften it into a compliment.
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