'She's got the nugget with her in the trap,' he said to himself;
'and she's taken it to show Marchurst. Well, she's sure to stop
there to tea, and won't start for home till about nine o'clock: it
will be pretty dark by then. She'll be by herself, and if I--' here
he stopped and looked round cautiously, and then, without another
word, set off down the street at a run.

The fact was, Mr Villiers had come to the conclusion that as his
wife would not give him money willingly, the best thing to be done
would be to take it by force, and accordingly he had made up his
mind to rob her of the nugget that night if possible. Of course
there was a risk, for he knew his wife was a determined woman;
still, while she was driving in the darkness down the hill, if he
took her by surprise he would be able to stun her with a blow and
get possession of the nugget. Then he could hide it in one of the
old shafts of the Black Hill Company until he required it. As to the
possibility of his wife knowing him, there would be no chance of
that in the darkness, so he could escape any unpleasant inquiries,
then take the nugget to Melbourne and get it melted down secretly.
He would be able to make nearly twelve hundred pounds out of it, so
the game would certainly be worth the candle. Full of this brilliant
idea of making a good sum at one stroke, Mr Villiers went home, had
something to eat, and taking with him a good stout stick, the nob of
which was loaded with lead, he started for the Black Hill with the
intent of watching Marchurst's house until his wife left there, and
then following her down the hill and possessing himself of the
nugget.

The afternoon wore drowsily along, and the great heat made everybody
inclined to sleep. Pierre had demanded by signs to be shown his