THK BOARDING-HOUSE, 189 



" Well ; I have taken my boots off, so we can go down close to the 

 store-room door and listen over the bannisters," continued Evenson ; 

 and down stairs they both crept accordingly, every board creaking 

 like a patent mangle on a Saturday afternoon. 



" It's Wisbottle and somebody I'll swear," exclaimed the radical 

 in an energetic whisper, when they had listened for a few moments. 



" Hush pray let's hear what they say," exclaimed Mrs. Tibbs, 

 the gratification of whose curiosity was now paramount to every 

 other consideration. 



" Ah! if I could but believe you," said a female voice coquet- 

 tishly, " I'd be bound to settle my missis for life." 



" What does she say ? " inquired Mr. Evenson, who was not quite 

 so well situated as his companion. 



" She says she'll settle her missis's life," replied Mrs. Tibbs. " The 

 wretch ! they're plotting murder." 



" I know you want money," continued the voice, which belonged 

 to Agnes ; " and if you'd secure me the five hundred pounds, I war- 

 rant she should take fire soon enough." 



" What's that?" inquired Evenson again. He could just hear 

 enough to want to hear more. 



" I think she says she'll set the house on fire," replied the affright- 

 ed Mrs. Tibbs. " Thank God I'm insured in the Phoenix ! " 



" The moment I have secured your mistress, my dear," said a man's 

 voice in a strong Irish brogue, " you may depend on having the 

 money." 



" Bless my soul, it's Mr. O'Bleary ! " exclaimed Mrs. Tibbs in a 

 parenthesis. 



" The villain ! " said the indignant Mr. Evenson. 



" The first thing to be done," continued the Hibernian, " is to 

 poison Mr. Gobler's mind." 



" Oh, certainly ! " returned Agnes, with the utmost coolness. 



" What's that?" inquired Evenson again, in an agony of curiosity 

 and a whisper. 



" He says she's to mind and poison Mr. Gobler," replied Mrs. 

 Tibbs, perfectly aghast at this awful sacrifice of human life. 



" And in regard to Mrs. Tibbs," continued O'Bleary. Mrs. Tibbs 

 shuddered. 



" Hush !" exclaimed Agnes, in a tone of the greatest alarm, just 

 as Mrs. Tibbs was on the extreme verge of a fainting fit. " Hush !" 



"Hush!" exclaimed Evenson, at the same moment to Mrs. 

 Tibbs. 



te There's somebody coming up stairs," said Agnes to O'Bleary. 



" There's somebody coming down stairs," whispered Evenson to 

 Mrs. Tibbs. 



" Go into the parlour, Sir," said Agnes to her companion. " You'll 

 get there before whoever it is gets to the top of the kitchen stairs." 



' ' The drawing-room, Mrs. Tibbs ! " whispered the astonished 

 Evenson to his equally astonished companion ; and for the drawing- 

 room they both made, plainly hearing the rustling of two persons 

 coming down stairs, and one coming up. 



