THE LETTER 269 



"Oh, that ould bell-wether! Sure, it was to 

 keep him from the cowld we put him there. And 

 was it our fault if he committed suicide and killed 

 himself and skinned himseK and hung himself 

 up in quarthers? " 



All the same, from that day he paid no more 

 attention to the comfort of the sheep of the 

 neighbourhood, confining himseK to smaller game. 



" Moriarty," said Mr French, " Mr Giveen has 

 found out where we are. He's been down here 

 to-day, and it's all up with us." 



" Faith, sorr," said Moriarty, " and I'm not 

 surprised. The only wonder to me is he didn't 

 find us out before." 



" Well, he's found us out now, anyhow, and be 

 hanged to him. There's only one thing. Mr 

 Dashwood has got hold of him and is sticking to 

 him. Not that I expect he'll do much good." 



Moriarty, who had put his trap down on the 

 wdndow-ledge of the kitchen, pursed his Ups and 

 stood with one hand caressing his foxy chin. 



" And where has Mr Dashwood got him, sorr? " 

 asked he, after a moment's silence. 



" I don't know." 



" Be any chance, sorr, d'you think he's left the 

 place yet? For if he hasn't, and we could speak 

 him fair and get him up here — " 



" Yes? " 



" Well, sorr, there's a loose-box beside the wan 

 The Cat's in." 



" You mean we might lock him up there? " 



