书城公版LITTLE NOVELS
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第767章 MISS DULANE AND MY LORD.(35)

"Three pounds a year, sir," the unfortunate creature replied.

"All paid?"

"Only one pound paid--and I say it's a crying shame.""Say what you like, my dear, so long as you listen to me. I want to know everything that your mistress says and does--first when she's drunk, and then when she's sober. Wait a bit; I haven't done yet. If you tell me everything you can remember--mind _everything_--I'll pay the rest of your wages."Madly excited by this golden prospect, the victim of domestic service answered inarticulately with a scream. Jackling's right hand and left hand entered his pockets, and appeared again holding two sovereigns separately between two fingers and thumbs.

From that moment, he was at liberty to empty the maid-of-all-work's memory of every saying and doing that it contained.