68 THE HISTORY OF DAME MITCHELL

Undismayed by this threat, Nicholas thus began: “I
must own it, my lady, I entered this mansion with the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

design of stealing your cat; the fortune-teller wanted him
to play the part of the spirit Astorath, and she had bribed
me with the promise of a silver crown-piece and a pair of
strong shoes. But I was so well treated, and Mowmouth
was so nice a cat, that I gave up my guilty design; never,
no never, should I have fulfilled it, had I not seen the
necessity of removing Mowmouth, and screening him from
the malice of an enemy, all the more dangerous because he
was unknown.”

“Whom does he allude to?” inquired Daddy Sharpphiz.

“To yu .! to you, who said to me: ‘Kill Mowmouth, or
I will turn you away.’ ”

“J! what I said so! you impudent liar! Oh, Lady
Greenford, you know me too well not to distinguish between
my solemn denial and the declaration of this ungrateful
villain.”

“ Nicholas,” said the Countess, knitting her brows,
“you have made a very grave charge; have you any proofs
to sustain it?”