Page:Moonfleet - John Meade Falkner.pdf/103

 I knew he said this, and hinted at delay, as wishing to do Elzevir a good turn; for his clerk had the lease already made out pat, and it only wanted the name and rent filled in to be sealed and signed. But, "No," says Maskew, "business is business, Mr. Bailiff, and the post uncertain to parts so distant from the capital as these; so I'll thank you to make out the lease to me now, and on May Day place me in possession."

"So be it then," said the bailiff, a little testily, "but blame me not for driving hard bargains; for the duchy, whose servant I am," and he raised his hat, "is no daughter of the horse-leech.—Fill in the figures, Mr. Scrutton, and let us away."

So Mr. Scrutton, for that was Mr. Clerk's name, scratches a bit with his quill on the parchment sheet to fill in the money, and then Maskew scratches his name, and Mr. Bailiff scratches his name, and Mr. Clerk scratches again to witness Mr. Bailiff's name, and then Mr. Bailiff takes from his mails a little shagreen case, and out from the case comes sealing-wax and the travelling seal of the duchy.

There was my aunt's best winter candle still burning away in the daylight, for no one had taken any thought to put it out; and Mr. Bailiff melts the wax at it, till a drop of sealing-wax falls into the grease and makes a gutter down one side, and then there is a swealing of the parchment under the hot wax, and at last on goes the seal.

"Signed, sealed, and delivered," says Mr. Clerk, rolling up the sheet and handing it to Maskew; and Maskew takes and thrusts it into his bosom under-