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Into this retreat； the secretary followed the two men whom he
had held in sight； and here he saw them safely lodged； in one of
the meanest houses； which was but a room； and that of small
dimensions。 He waited without； until the sound of their voices；
joined in a discordant song； assured him they were making merry；
and then approaching the door； by means of a tottering plank
which crossed the ditch in front； knocked at it with his hand。
‘Muster Gashford！’ said the man who opened it； taking his pipe
from his mouth； in evident surprise。 ‘Why； who’d have thought of
this here honour！ Walk in； Muster Gashford—walk in； sir。’
Gashford required no second invitation； and entered with a
gracious air。 There was a fire in the rusty grate （for though the
spring was pretty far advanced； the nights were cold）； and on a
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stool beside it Hugh sat smoking。 Dennis placed a chair； his only
one； for the secretary； in front of the hearth； and took his seat
again upon the stool he had left when he rose to give the visitor
admission。
‘What’s in the wind now； Muster Gashford？’ he said； as he
resumed his pipe； and looked at him askew。 ‘Any orders from
head…quarters？ Are we going to begin？ What is it； Muster
Gashford？’
‘Oh； nothing； nothing；’ rejoined the secretary； with a friendly
nod to Hugh。 ‘We have broken the ice； though。 We had a little
spurt to…day—eh； Dennis？’
‘A very little one；’ growled the hangman。 ‘Not half enough for
me。’
‘Nor me neither！’ cried Hugh。 ‘Give us something to do with life
in it—with life in it； master。 Ha； ha！’
‘Why； you wouldn’t；’ said the secretary； with his worst
expression of face； and in his mildest tones； ‘have anything to do；
with—with death in it？’
‘I don’t know that；’ replied Hugh。 ‘I’m open to orders。 I don’t
care； not I。’
‘Nor I！’ vociferated Dennis。
‘Brave fellows！’ said the secretary； in as pastor…like a voice as if
he were commending them for some uncommon act of valour and
generosity。 ‘By the bye’—and here he stopped and warmed his
hands： then suddenly looked up—‘who threw that stone to…day？’
Mr Dennis coughed and shook his head； as who should say； ‘A
mystery indeed！’ Hugh sat and smoked in silence。
‘It was well done！’ said the secretary； warming his hands again。
‘I should like to know that man。’
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‘Would you？’ said Dennis； after looking at his face to assure
himself that he was serious。 ‘Would you like to know that man；
Muster Gashford？’
‘I should indeed；’ replied the secretary。
‘Why then； Lord love you；’ said the hangman； in his hoarsest
chuckle； as he pointed with his pipe to Hugh； ‘there he sits。 That’s
the man。 My stars and halters； Muster Gashford；’ he added in a
whisper； as he drew his stool close to him and jogged him with his
elbow； ‘what a interesting blade he is！ He wants as much holding
in as a thorough…bred bulldog。 If it hadn’t been for me to…day； he’d
have had that ’ere Roman down； and made a riot of it； in another
minute。’
‘And why not？’ cried Hugh in a surly voice； as he overheard this
last remark。 ‘Where’s the good of putting things off？ Strike while
the iron’s hot； that’s what I say。’
‘Ah！’ retorted Dennis； shaking his head； with a kind of pity for
his friend’s ingenuous youth； ‘but suppose the iron an’t hot；
brother！ You must get people’s blood up afore you strike； and have
’em in the humour。 There wasn’t quite enough to provoke ’em to…
day； I tell you。 If you’d had your way； you’d have spoilt the fun to
come； and ruined us。’
‘Dennis is quite right；’ said Gashford； smoothly。 ‘He is perfectly
correct。 Dennis has great knowledge of the world。’
‘I ought to have； Muster Gashford； seeing what a many people
I’ve helped out of it； eh？’ grinned the hangman； whispering the
words behind his hand。
The secretary laughed at this jest as much as Dennis could
desire； and when he had done； said； turning to Hugh：
‘Dennis’s policy was mine； as you may have observed。 You saw；
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for instance； how I fell when I was set upon。 I made no resistance。
I did nothing to provoke an outbreak。 Oh dear no！’
‘No； by the Lord Harry！’ cried Dennis with a noisy laugh； ‘you
went down very quiet； Muster Gashford—and very flat besides。 I
thinks to myself at the time “it’s all up with Muster Gashford！” I
never see a man lay flatter nor more still—with the life in him—
than you did to…day。 He’s a rough ’un to play with； is that ’ere
Papist； and that’s the fact。’
The secretary’s face； as Dennis roared with laughter； and
turned his wrinkled eyes on Hugh who did the like； might have
furnished a study for the devil’s picture。 He sat quite silent until
they were serious again； and then said； looking round：
‘We are very pleasant here； so very pleasant； Dennis； that but
for my lord’s particular desire that I should sup with him； and the
time being very near at hand； I should he inclined to stay； until it
would be hardly safe to go homeward。 I come upon a little
business—yes； I do—as you supposed。 It’s very flattering to you；
being this。 If we ever should be obliged—and we can’t tell； you
know—this is a very uncertain world’—
‘I believe you； Muster Gashford；’ interposed the hangman with
a grave nod。 ‘The uncertainties as I’ve seen in reference to this
here state of existence； the unexpected contingencies as have
come about！—Oh my eye！’ Feeling the subject much too vast for
expression； he puffed at his pipe again； and looked the rest。
‘I say；’ resumed the secretary； in a slow； impressive way； ‘we
can’t tell what may come to pass； and if we should be obliged；
against our wills； to have recourse to violence； my lord （who has
suffered terribly to…day； as far as words can go） consigns to you
two—bearing in mind my recommendation of you both； as good
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staunch men； beyond all doubt and suspicion—the pleasant task of
punishing this Haredale。 You may do as you please with him； or
his； provided that you show no mercy； and no quarter； and leave
no two beams of his house standing where the builder placed
them。 You may sack it； burn it； do with it as you like； but it must
come down； it must be razed to the ground； and he； and all
belonging to him； left as shelterless as new…born infants whom
their mothers have exposed。 Do you understand me？’ said
Gashford； pausing； and pressing his hands together gently。
‘Understand you； master！’ cried Hugh。 ‘You speak plain now。
Why； this is hearty！’
‘I knew you would like it；’ said Gashford； shaking him by the
hand； ‘I thought you would。 Good night！ Don’t rise； Dennis： I
would rather find my way alone。 I may have to make other visits
here； and it’s pleasant to come and go without disturbing you。 I
can find my way perfectly well。 Good night！’
He was gone； and had shut the door behind him。 They looked at
each other； and nodded