caught without having nibbled; and dive into what depths he would he was
sensible of a summoning force that compelled him perpetually towards the
gasping surface, which he seemed inevitably approaching when the dinner-
bell sounded. There the talk was all of Farmer Blaize. If it dropped,
Adrian revived it, and his caressing way with Ripton was just such as a
keen sportsman feels toward the creature that had owned his skill, and is
making its appearance for the world to acknowledge the same. Sir Austin
saw the manoeuvres, and admired Adrian's shrewdness. But he had to check
the young natural lawyer, for the effect of so much masked examination
upon Richard was growing baneful. This fish also felt the hook in his
gills, but this fish was more of a pike, and lay in different waters,
where there were old stumps and black roots to wind about, and defy alike
strong pulling and delicate handling. In other words, Richard showed
symptoms of a disposition to take refuge in lies.

"You know the grounds, my dear boy," Adrian observed to him. "Tell me;
do you think it easy to get to the rick unperceived? I hear they suspect
one of the farmer's turned-off hands."

"I tell you I don't know the grounds," Richard sullenly replied.

"Not?" Adrian counterfeited courteous astonishment. "I thought Mr.
Thompson said you were over there yesterday?"

Ripton, glad to speak the truth, hurriedly assured Adrian that it was not
he had said so.

"Not? You had good sport, gentlemen, hadn't you?"

"Oh, yes!" mumbled the wretched victims, reddening as they remembered, in