Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/26

20 Robin Cursemother and Ben the Blast have never come to your ears."

Lieutenant Tregenna uttered each of these names very clearly, and with solemn emphasis, standing so that he could see the expression of the girl's face as he mentioned them. To his great disgust, he perceived that, though she kept her eyes down as if to conceal her feelings, she was well acquainted with all these men, and appeared somewhat startled to learn that he knew them so well.

"You have heard of these men?" he asked sharply.

"Yes, I've—I've heard of them."

"You know them, perhaps?"

A moment's pause.

"Ye—es, I know them."

"I won't affront you by asking whether you have any sympathy with them and their methods. With men that live by defrauding the revenue, and that scruple not to commit the most violent deeds in the exercise of their unlawful calling?"

The lieutenant's tone was harsh and arrogant as he asked these questions. Miss Joan still sat with her eyelids down, giving him a new