BON GRE— MAL GRE 315 



He took a step backwards, but Moriarty's 

 hand fell on his arm. 



" Just for wanst, now," said Moriarty, in the 

 tone of sweet persuasion that a boon companion 

 uses to a boon companion. " Just for wanst.' ^ 



" Thank you, I never drink," said Piper, with 

 a rising inflexion that did not improve his voice. 

 " And I'd thank you to release my arm." 



" Come on, Andy," said Moriarty, " and help 

 me to persuade IVIisther Piper to jine us. Now, 

 then, come quiet. That's it. Sure, I knew you'd 

 Usten to raison." 



Miss Grimshaw, who had retired early, was just 

 in the act of undressing when voices from the stable- 

 yard outside her window made her raise the slats 

 of her bhnd and peep out. 



By the full moonlight she saw Moriarty and 

 Andy at the loose-box door. Piper was between 

 them. Moriarty was gently persuading him from 

 behind, applying the vis a tergo; the vis a fronte 

 was supphed by Andy, who had fast hold of the 

 baiUff 's left arm. She could not help remembering 

 the sheep which she had seen one night, not so 

 very long ago, haled into the same loose-box, 

 Moriarty pushing it behind, Andy assisting its 

 movements from in front. 



The loose-box door closed on Moriarty and his 

 victim, just as it had closed on the sheep. Miss 

 Grimshaw, half-horrified, hah-amused, filled half 

 with curiosity, hah with alarm, waited for sounds 

 to tell of what w?vS going forward; but no sound 



