Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 11 my aunt, as something she might like to keep.
There was, as I had noticed on my first visit long ago, an
iron safe in the room. The key was in it. A hasty suspicion
seemed to strike Uriah; and, with a glance at Mr. Micawber,
he went to it, and threw the doors clanking open. It was
empty.
‘Where are the books?’ he cried, with a frightful face.
‘Some thief has stolen the books!’
Mr. Micawber tapped himself with the ruler. ‘I did, when
I got the key from you as usual - but a little earlier - and
opened it this morning.’
‘Don’t be uneasy,’ said Traddles. ‘They have come into my
possession. I will take care of them, under the authority I
mentioned.’
‘You receive stolen goods, do you?’ cried Uriah.
‘Under such circumstances,’ answered Traddles, ‘yes.’
What was my astonishment when I beheld my aunt, who
had been profoundly quiet and attentive, make a dart at
Uriah Heep, and seize him by the collar with both hands!
‘You know what I want?’ said my aunt.
‘A strait-waistcoat,’ said he.
‘No. My property!’ returned my aunt. ‘Agnes, my dear, as
long as I believed it had been really made away with by your
father, I wouldn’t - and, my dear, I didn’t, even to Trot, as he
knows - breathe a syllable of its having been placed here for
investment. But, now I know this fellow’s answerable for it,
and I’ll have it! Trot, come and take it away from him!’
Whether my aunt supposed, for the moment, that he
kept her property in his neck-kerchief, I am sure I don’t