The first
five thousand I consider I have already earned. It was the last five
thousand that I was to get when the girl should be disposed of."
"Well?"
"Well, I have not given up either the intention of earning the money
or the hope of getting the girl; in truth, I had rather lose the
money than the girl. I have been on the watch almost continually;
but, though I suppose she rides out frequently, I have not yet
happened to hit upon her in any of her excursions. At last, however,
I have fixed upon a plan for getting the witch into my power. I
shall trust the execution of my plan to no one but myself. But I
must have time."
"Time! perdition, sir! delay in this matter is fraught with danger!
Listen, sir! How Warfield got possession of this girl or the
knowledge of her history I do not know, except that it was through
the agency of that accursed hag Nancy Grewell. But that he has her
and that he knows all about her is but too certain. That he has not
at present legal proof enough to establish her identity and her
rights before a court of justice I infer from the fact of his
continuing inactive in the matter. But who can foresee how soon he
may obtain all the proof that is necessary to establish Capitola's
claims and wrest the whole of this property from me? Who can tell
whether he is not now secretly engaged in seeking and collecting
such proof? Therefore, I repeat that the girl must immediately be
got rid of! Donald, rid me of that creature and the day that you
prove to me her death I will double your fee!"
"Agreed, my colonel, agreed! I have no objection to your doubling,
or even quadrupling, my fee.
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