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Durnford," resumed "Cobbler" Horn, "tells me it is a common thing for young ladies to be secretaries now-a-days; and he very highly recommended this one in particular." Miss Jemima knew, that if her brother's mind was made up, it would be useless to withstand his will. "When is she coming?" was all she said. "I don't know. Mr. Durnford promised to write and ask her to come and see us first.
Durnford, he had much communication with workhouse and parish authorities, and even with the police; and, as the opening day of the "Home" drew near, he had secured, as the nucleus of his little family, some dozen tiny outcasts, consisting of six or seven boys, and about as many girls. It now remained that a "father" and "mother" should be found.
"And will it be too much if I ask you to advise me, in due course, as to the best way of making this money of my uncle's do as much good as possible, in a general way?" "By no means," protested Mr. Durnford, "I am entirely at your service, my dear sir. But now," he added, after a pause, "I've been considering, and I think I can find you a secretary." "Ah! who is he, sir?" "It is she, not he."
Durnford; "but they would like to have a personal interview first." "By all means. When can they see me? And where?" "Well, it would be a great convenience to Mr. Burton if you would go there. He cannot very well get away. But he could arrange to meet you at his own house."
But, if that were the case, where should I be, for instance?" and Mr. Caske swelled himself out more than ever. Mr. Durnford had hitherto listened in silence. Though inclined to speak in very strong terms, he had restrained himself with a powerful effort. He knew that if he allowed these men to proceed, they would soon fill their cup.
"Indeed I do. She'll disarm Miss Horn at once. It'll be a case of love at first sight." "Well, sir, let it be as you say." "Then I may write to her without delay?" "If you please, sir." "Pray for me, Mr. Durnford," said "Cobbler" Horn, as he took his leave. "I will, my friend," was the hearty response.
It may be well to explain here, that to these movements of troops, which, so far as can be ascertained, were made by the direct orders of Colonel Durnford, must be attributed the terrible disaster that followed.
"Then by Woodroffe?" Durnford said. "Without a doubt. It was all most cleverly thought out. It was to his advantage alone to close our lips, because in that same fatal chair in Lambeth old Jacob Moser, the Jew bullion-broker of Hatton Garden, met his death a most dastardly crime, with which none of his friends were associated, and of which we alone held knowledge.
And I should like them to be some good Christian man and his wife, who would undertake the work without asking about salary at all, and would leave it to me to make that all right. Do you think they would trust me so far, Mr. Durnford?" Mr. Durnford smiled in his shrewd way. "If they knew you, Mr. Horn, they would rather trust you in the matter than suggest an amount themselves."
The real blame for that disaster does not rest upon the shoulders of either Colonel Durnford or Colonel Pulleine. After this things grew very awful. Some fled, but the most stood and died where they were. Oddly enough during all this time I was never touched. Men fell to my right and left and in front of me; bullets and assegais whizzed past me, yet I remained quite unhurt.
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