"But I couldn't! He would find out..."

"Then I must act, that's all. Or no--I give you another chance--tell
him of the fifty pounds I sent--that may disarm him in another way--"

He was sure that this she would not now do, yet felt relieved when
she cried out: "I couldn't! Not now! Can't you see?"

"Well, there is nothing to be done, then. I must act, that's all".

"But don't be _hard_! What can I do? Sooner or later he'd be sure to
miss them!"

"Poh! he is not always shooting, I suppose? And after a few weeks
I'd give them back. Anyway, think it over: and I'll be here on
Tuesday night next at nine to receive them. Good night--"

She looked palely after him, her feet in a net, new to her, woven of
concealments and deceit.

At eleven that night she was sitting in their diminutive parlour,--
Hogarth at a table inscribing the association's names received by
post that evening; and at last, bending low over her sewing, she
said: "Richard, is it true you have been to the Hall?"

He started! "Yes. Who told you?"

"I heard it".