will come." He paused, and peered anxiously into the darkness.
"But come what may, she is mine," he continued, as his thoughts
reverted fondly to the fair lady he had quitted. "Yet if she knew
all. If she knew that I were a disgraced and ruined man,--a felon
and an outcast. If she knew that at the age of fourteen I murdered
my Latin tutor and forged my uncle's will. If she knew that I had
three wives already, and that the fourth victim of misplaced
confidence and my unfortunate peculiarity is expected to be at
Sloperton by to-night's train with her baby. But no; she must not
know it. Constance must not arrive. Burke the Slogger must attend
to that.

"Ha! here he is! Well?"

These words were addressed to a ruffian in a slouched hat, who
suddenly appeared from Guy's Keep.

"I be's here, measter," said the villain, with a disgracefully low
accent and complete disregard of grammatical rules.

"It is well. Listen: I'm in possession of facts that will send you
to the gallows. I know of the murder of Bill Smithers, the robbery
of the tollgate-keeper, and the making away of the youngest
daughter of Sir Reginald de Walton. A word from me, and the
officers of justice are on your track."

Burke the Slogger trembled.

"Hark ye! serve my purpose, and I may yet save you. The 5.30 train
from Clapham will be due at Sloperton at 9.25. IT MUST NOT