"I had rather," she said, "tell you about it before you see the
Professors, for if you see them the whole thing will be reopened, and you
are sure to let them see how much more there is in it than they suspect.
I want everything hushed up for the moment; do not, therefore, join us.
Have dinner sent to you in your father's study. I will come to you about
midnight."
"But, my dear mother," said George, "I have seen Panky already. I walked
down with him a good long way this afternoon."
Yram had not expected this, but she kept her countenance. "How did you
know," said she, "that he was Professor Panky? Did he tell you so?"
"Certainly he did. He showed me his permit, which was made out in favour
of Professors Hanky and Panky, or either of them. He said Hanky had been
unable to come with him, and that he was himself Professor Panky."
Yram again smiled very sweetly. "Then, my dear boy," she said, "I am all
the more anxious that you should not see him now. See nobody but the
servants and your brothers, and wait till I can enlighten you. I must
not stay another moment; but tell me this much, have you seen any signs
of poachers lately?"
"Yes; there were three last night."
"In what part of the preserves?"
Her son described the place.
"You are sure they had been killing quails?"
"Yes, and eating them--two on one side of a fire they had lit, and one on
the other; this last man had done all the plucking.
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