Fiction > Book editions > London, 1889 - Master of Ballantrae

Passages at istew york. SG5
will si)oil your attitude. You can now afford (believe
me) to be a little gracious; for I have not merely a de-
feat to accept. I had meant to continue this performance
till I had gathered enough money for a certain purpose;
I confess ingenuously, I have not the courage. You
naturally desire my absence from this town ; I have
come round by another way to the same idea. And I
have a proposition to make ; or, if your lordship prefers,
a favour to ask.^'
" Ask it/^ says my lord.
" You may have heard that I had once in this
country a considerable treasure/^ returned the Master;
" it matters not whether or no — such is the fact ; and
I was obliged to bury it in a spot of which I have
sufficient indications. To the recovery of this, has my
ambition now come down ; and, as it is my own, you
will not grudge it me."
" Go and get it," says my lord. " I make no
opposition."
" Yes," said the jMaster ; " but to do so, I must find
men and carriage. The way is long and rough, and the
country infested with wild Indians. Advance me only
so much as shall be needful : either as a lump sum, in
lieu of my allowance; or, if you prefer it, as a loan,
which I shall repay on my return. And then, if you so
decide, you may have seen the last of me."
]My lord stared him steadily in the eyes ; there was a
hard smile upon his face, but he uttered nothing.