The idea of
freedom was agreeable to the poor wretch; and he began to wind up
his affairs as quickly as he could.
Hayes would now allow no one to make his bed or enter his room; and
Wood could hear him through the panels fidgeting perpetually to and
fro, opening and shutting of chests, and clinking of coin. At the
least sound he would start up, and would go to Billings's door and
listen. Wood used to hear him creeping through the passages, and
returning stealthily to his own chamber.
One day the woman and her son had been angrily taunting him in the
presence of a neighbour. The neighbour retired soon; and Hayes, who
had gone with him to the door, heard, on returning, the voice of
Wood in the parlour. The old man laughed in his usual saturnine
way, and said, "Have a care, Mrs. Cat; for if Hayes were to die
suddenly, by the laws, the neighbours would accuse thee of his
death."
Hayes started as if he had been shot. "He too is in the plot,"
thought he. "They are all leagued against me: they WILL kill me:
they are only biding their time." Fear seized him, and he thought
of flying that instant and leaving all; and he stole into his room
and gathered his money together. But only a half of it was there:
in a few weeks all would have come in.
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