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"It sounds like a piece out of a story-book one of those tales of adventure." "Aye, does it?" said I. "Only, in my case, Mr. Smeaton, fact's been a lot stranger than fiction! You've read all about this Berwick mystery in the newspapers?" "Every word seeing that I was mentioned," he answered. "Then I'll give you the latest chapter," I continued. "You'll know my name when you hear it Hugh Moneylaws.
"Why should you think to find Miss Dunlop here in this old ruin?" he argued; and I could see he was genuinely curious. "Come now straight talk, Moneylaws! and it'll be all the better for you." "She's missing since last night," I replied.
You've maybe had a young lady yourself one time or another you'll understand what I'm feeling about it?" He nodded solemnly at that and in quite a friendly way. "Aye!" he answered. "I understand your feelings well enough, Moneylaws and I'm a man of sentiment, so I'll tell you at once that the lass is safe enough, and there's not as much harm come to her as you could put on a sixpence so there!
My mother came quietly in upon us before I could reply to the stranger's last remark, and I saw at once that he was a man of some politeness and manners, for he got himself up out of his chair and made her a sort of bow, in an old-fashioned way. And without waiting for me, he let his tongue loose on her. "Servant, ma'am," said he. "You'll be the lady of the house Mrs. Moneylaws.
"What's happened within your own province officially, I mean?" "Not much," answered Murray. "There began to be talk evening before last, amongst the fishermen, about Sir Gilbert's yacht. He'd been seen, of course, to go out with Moneylaws there, two days ago, at noon. And there is Moneylaws! Doesn't he know anything? Where's Sir Gilbert, Moneylaws?"
"Whatever it is, you're a likely-looking youngster!" "My name's Hugh Moneylaws," I answered, thinking it no harm to humour him. "If you want to know about lodgings you must wait till my mother comes in. Just now she's away up the street she'll be back presently." "No hurry, my lad," he replied. "None whatever. This is a comfortable anchorage. Quiet. Your mother'll be a widow woman, now?"
He gave me a quick glance, as if he were sizing me up altogether. "Well, I'll tell you what, Mr. Moneylaws," he said. "The fact is, I'm wanting a sort of steward, and it strikes me that you're just the man I'm looking for!"
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