"I never
tread on people's corns. Only when it's wanted let me know. You see he
went by the board. He begged me to save him. How could I? I've done
enough for other people. Must take care of number one, now. Kerbstone,
he begs, too. I shan't help him."
Fletcher felt relieved; at the same time he determined without delay to
make a new effort to get the fatal evidence of his former crime into his
own possession.
"Oh," said Bullion, as if he had forgotten something, "the wife and
baby, let's see 'em."
Fletcher called his wife, who came in timidly, and shrank from the
fierce look of the man of money.
"How d'e do, Ma'am? Your servant, Ma'am. Glad to see you. But the baby?"
"Fetch the baby, lovey," said Fletcher.
Baby was brought, smiling with as little reason as possible, and winking
very hard in the light.
"Pretty dear!" said Bullion, chucking her under the chin.
"I wonder what the devil this means," thought Fletcher.
How was his surprise increased when, after a moment, Bullion inquired,--
"Teeth cut yet? Some of 'em, I see. More to come.
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