"I like Fanny best." said Troy; "and if, as you say, Miss Everdene is out of my reach, why I have all to gain by accepting your money, and marrying Fan. But she's only a servant."
"Never mind -- do you agree to my arrangement?"
"I do."
"Ah!" said Boldwood, in a more elastic voice. "O, Troy, if you like her best, why then did you step in here and injure my happiness?"
"I love Fanny best now." said Troy. "But Bathsh -- -- Miss Everdene inflamed me, and displaced Fanny for a time. It is over now."
"Why should it be over so soon? And why then did you come here again?"
"There are weighty reasons. Fifty pounds at once, you said!"
"I did." said Boldwood, " and here they are -- fifty sovereigns." He handed Troy a small packet.
"You have everything ready -- it seems that you calculated on my accepting them." said the sergeant, taking the packet.
"I thought you might accept them." said Boldwood.
"You've only my word that the programme shall be adhered to, whilst I at any rate have fifty pounds."
"l had thought of that, and l have considered that if I can't appeal to your honour I can trust to your -well, shrewdness we'll call it -- not to lose five hundred pounds in prospect, and also make a bitter enemy of a man who is willing to be an extremely useful friend."
"Stop, listen!" said Troy in a whisper.
A light pit-pat was audible upon the road just above them.
"By George -- 'tis she." he continued. "I must go on and meet her."
"She -- who?"
"Bathsheba."
"Bathsheba -- out alone at this time o' night!" said Boldwood in amazement, and starting up." Why must you meet her?"
"She was expecting me to-night -- and I must now speak to her, and wish her good-bye, according to your wish. "
"I don't see the necessity of speaking."
"It can do no harm -- and she'll be wandering about looking for me if I don't. You shall hear all I say to her.
It will help you in your love-making when I am gone."
"Your tone is mocking."
"O no. And remember this, if she does not know what has become of me, she will think more about me than if I tell her flatly I have come to give her up."
"Will you confine your words to that one point? -Shall I hear every word you say?"
"Every word. Now sit still there, and hold my"
carpet bag for me, and mark what you hear."
The light footstep came closer, halting occasionally, as if the walker listened for a sound. Troy whistled a double note in a soft, fluty tone.