Well, I was a good deal surprised to hear Joshua talk so reasonable, and what he said next astonished me still more.

“That’s so far to the good,” I answered, “for I care a lot too much for the maiden to stand between her and her real welfare.  But, apart from her, I’ve always suspicioned Tom Bond was too good for this world till this happened.  Men ain’t so perfect as him, and when I heard he’d got round Jenny, I began to fear there was more to the young man than meets the eye.”

“A plucky sight more,” declared Owlet.  “You can leave him for a minute.  I’ll come to him—­the wicked rascal.  But first I want for you to know that I’d a darned sight sooner see my daughter married to you than him, or any other man; and though I hate like hell for her to leave me, I ordain, since it’s got to be, that you have her and none other.  And none else ever shall.”

I couldn’t believe my ears, of course, but he was terribly in earnest.  He tore at his beard as his manner was, and his eyes flashed, and I couldn’t tell for my life whether he was speaking truth or was lying to me.

“So much for that then,” I said, “and I’m very glad to hear you take that view, for it was time you saw sense in the matter.  But I don’t wed Jenny if she don’t want to wed me—­not to please you, or nobody.  And that brings us to Tom Bond.  At this moment I’m in a difficulty, because seeking, where I counted to learn more about him, I’ve been headed off.  His credentials was all they should be, and Sir Walter didn’t trouble to verify ’em; and asking him for ’em a few days since, I was a good bit put about to hear that master couldn’t find ’em.  But he dared me to say there was anything wrong with Bond, because he thinks the world of the man and wouldn’t have him away on no account whatever.”

“I’ll lay my life the blackguard stole those credentials poking about where he didn’t ought,” said Joshua; but I answered ’twas little likely.

“The master be almost sure to have destroyed ’em, for he’s got a mania for tearing up in a hurry,” I explained, “and he’ll often do so and lament too late.”

“I hope he did, then, and I’ll tell you why,” said Owlet to me.  “And, come to think of it, I guess he did, for Bond is terrible anxious and worried and like a rat in a trap.  He knows you are on his track and he knows that if those credentials exist and you can put hand to ’em you’ll mighty soon find they was forged.  So don’t you whisper they can’t be found.”

“And how do you know they was forged?” I asked.

“Because he told me so,” answered Joshua.  “He came here about Jenny and pitched a tale and I listened, and presently I found the man was far different from what he makes out at Oakshotts.  I did a bit of play-acting myself, William, and led him on, and though he was cautious as a rat, I made him think after a bit I was a wrong ’un myself and got his confidence.”

“And how did you do that?” I asked.  “And why?”