It's not so easily done. But I am not so much surprised, sir, as
you expected me to be, certainly.'
'May I ask why not, my good friend?'
'I have seen, sir,' returned the locksmith with evident reluctance,
'I have seen in connection with her, something that has filled me with
distrust and uneasiness. She has made bad friends, how, or when, I don't
know; but that her house is a refuge for one robber and cut-throat at
least, I am certain. There, sir! Now it's out.'
'Varden!'
'My own eyes, sir, are my witnesses, and for her sake I would be
willingly half-blind, if I could but have the pleasure of mistrusting
'em. I have kept the secret till now, and it will go no further than
yourself, I know; but I tell you that with my own eyes--broad awake--I
saw, in the passage of her house one evening after dark, the highwayman
who robbed and wounded Mr Edward Chester, and on the same night
threatened me.'
'And you made no effort to detain him?' said Mr Haredale quickly.
'Sir,' returned the locksmith, 'she herself prevented me--held me, with
all her strength, and hung about me until he had got clear off.' And
having gone so far, he related circumstantially all that had passed upon
the night in question.
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