'He's lying asleep before the kitchen fire, sir,' said Mr Willet. 'What
do you want him for?'
'I want him to come with me to look after this bracelet and letter,'
answered Joe. 'Halloa there! Hugh!'
Dolly turned pale as death, and felt as if she must faint forthwith.
After a few moments, Hugh came staggering in, stretching himself and
yawning according to custom, and presenting every appearance of having
been roused from a sound nap.
'Here, sleepy-head,' said Joe, giving him the lantern. 'Carry this, and
bring the dog, and that small cudgel of yours. And woe betide the fellow
if we come upon him.'
'What fellow?' growled Hugh, rubbing his eyes and shaking himself.
'What fellow?' returned Joe, who was in a state of great valour and
bustle; 'a fellow you ought to know of and be more alive about. It's
well for the like of you, lazy giant that you are, to be snoring your
time away in chimney-corners, when honest men's daughters can't cross
even our quiet meadows at nightfall without being set upon by footpads,
and frightened out of their precious lives.'
'They never rob me,' cried Hugh with a laugh. 'I have got nothing to
lose. But I'd as lief knock them at head as any other men.
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