Читать книгу Charles Peace, or The Adventures of a Notorious Burglar онлайн

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“Middling. You see, before I leave London I thought it just as well to see a few of the sights. Perhaps I shan’t have another chance for a goodish while, you know.”

“Ah! just so. Then you are only here for a time—​you intend returning to Sheffield?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“I see, a bird of passage—​eh?”

Peace smiled. Then, after a pause, he said, quickly—

“But, I say, Laura, old girl, who was that boy I saw at the door as I came in?”

“A fair-haired lad?”

“Yes, and good looking. I hardly knew him.”

“Have you seen him before, then?” inquired Miss Stanbridge, in a tone of surprise.

“Aye—​surely.”

“Dear me; how remarkable! You know him, then?”

“Well, I know about him—​have seen him several times in the neighbourhood of Broxbridge.”

“Oh! that’s where he came from.”

“I suppose so. He was with farmer Jamblin. How is it he is here?”

“Poor fellow! he was starving, and—​and—​well, I made him useful, and gave him board and lodging.”

“Ah!” murmured Peace, looking down on the floor of the apartment. “Well, I suppose it’s all right?” here he whistled.