She was evidently conscious of this; for as Hycy stood gazing
upon her, she reddened, and betrayed unequivocal symptons of confusion.
"Because, Nanny," he proceeded, "if you knew anything about it, and
didn't mention it at once to the family, you would be considered as one
of the robbers."
"An' wouldn't I be nearly as bad if I didn't?" she replied; "surely the
first thing I'd do would be to tell."
"It's very strange," observed Hycy, "that such a robbery could be
committed in a house where there are so many servants, without any clue
whatsoever to a discovery."
"Well, I don't agree with you there, Mr. Hycy--if what your father and
mother an' all o' them say is true--that it wasn't often the hall-door
was bolted at night; and that they can't say whether it was fastened on
that night or not. Sure if it wasn't, there was nothing to prevent any
one from comin' in."
"Very true, Nanny," he replied, "very true; and we have paid severely
for our negligence."
This closed the conversation, but Hycy felt that, proceed from whatever
source it might, it was impossible to dismiss certain vague suspicions
as connected with the mendicant's daughter. He determined, however,
to watch her narrowly; and somehow he could not divest himself of the
impression that she saw through his design. This incident occurred a few
days after the robbery.
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