What have you to say to it?"
"That it would be both grave and serious," replied Hycy, "if it
possessed but one simple element, without which all evidence is
valueless--I mean truth. All I can say is, that she might just as well
name either of yourselves, gentlemen, as me."
"How do you know that Hogan committed the robbery?" asked Hycy.
"Simply bekaise I seen him. He broke open the big chest above stairs."
"How did you see him?" asked Vanston.
"Through a hole in the partition," she replied, "where a knot of the
deal boards had come out. I slep', plaise your honor, in a little closet
off o' the room the money was in."
"Is it true that she slept there, Mr. Burke?" asked Vanston of the old
man.
"It is thrue, sir, God help me; that at all events is thrue."
"Well, proceed," said Chevydale.
"I then throw my gown about my shoulders; but in risin' from my bed it
creaked a little, an' Bat Hogan, who had jest let down the lid of the
chest aisily when he hard the noise, blew out the bit of candle that he
had in his hand, and picked his way down stairs as aisily as he could. I
folloyed him on my tippy-toes, an' when he came opposite the door of
the room where the masther and misthress sleep, the door opened, an' the
mistress wid a candle in her hand met him full--but in the teeth. I was
above upon the stairs at the time, but from the way an' the place she
stood in, the light didn't rache me, so that I could see them widout
bein' seen myself.
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