he
makes out, I suppose?"

"It is not so bad as that," Mannering answered, "but it is bad enough."

"What became of the woman?" Fardell asked. "Parkins's mistress, I mean?"

"She is my wife," Mannering answered.

Fardell threw out his hands with a little gesture of despair.

"We must get him away from here," he said. "If Polden gets hold of him
you might as well resign at once. It is dangerous for you to stay. He was
evidently expecting that fellow Ronaldson to-night."

Mannering nodded.

"What shall you do with him?" he asked.

"Hide him if I can," Fardell answered, grimly. "If I can get him out of
this place, it ought not to be impossible. The most important thing at
present is for you to get away without being recognized."

Mannering took up his hat.

"I will go," he said. "I shall leave the cab for you. I can find my way
back to the hotel."

Fardell nodded.

"It would be better," he said. "Turn your coat-collar up and draw your
hat down over your eyes. You mustn't be recognized down here. It's a
pretty low part."

Nevertheless, Mannering had not reached the corner of the street before
he heard hasty footsteps behind him, and felt a light touch upon his
shoulder. He turned sharply round.

"Well, sir!" he exclaimed, "what do you want with me?"

The newcomer was a tall, thin young man, wearing glasses, and although he
was a complete stranger to Mannering, he knew at once who he was.

"Mr. Mannering, I believe?" he said, quickly.

"What has my name to do with you, sir?" Mannering answered, coldly.

"Mine is Ronaldson," the young man answered. "I am a reporter."

Mannering regarded him steadily for a moment.

"You are the young man, then," he said, "who has discovered the mare's
nest of my iniquity."

"If it is a mare's nest," the young man answered, briskly, "I shall be
quite as much relieved as disappointed. But your being down here doesn't
look very much like that, does it?"

"No man," Mannering answered, "hears that a bomb is going to be thrown at
him without a certain amount of curiosity as to its nature. I have been
down to examine the bomb. Frankly, I don't think much of it."

"You are prepared, then, to deny this man Parkins's story?" the reporter
asked.

"I am prepared to have a shot at your paper for libel, anyhow, if you use
it," Mannering answered.

"Do you know the substance of his communication?"

"I can make a pretty good guess at it," Mannering answered.

"You really me