wi' me, young feller!"
growled the carter. "Sovereign!--bah!--Show us."

"Here it is," said Bellew, holding up the coin in question. "Catch!"
and, with the word, he tossed it up to the carter who caught it, very
dexterously, looked at it, bit it, rubbed it on his sleeve, rang it upon
the foot-board of his waggon, bit it again and finally pocketed it.

"It's a go, sir," he nodded, his scowl vanishing as by magic; and as he
spoke, he turned, seized the nearest sack, and, forthwith sent a cascade
of potatoes rolling, and bounding all over the road. Which done, he
folded up the sack, and handed it down to Bellew who thrust it under the
seat, nodded, and, throwing in the clutch, set off down the road. But,
long after the car had hummed itself out of sight, and the dust of its
going had subsided, the carter sat staring after it--open-mouthed.

If Baxter wondered at this purchase, he said nothing, only he bent his
gaze thoughtfully upon the black leather bag that he held upon his knee.

On they sped between fragrant hedges, under whispering trees, past
lonely cottages and farm-houses, past gate, and field, and wood, until
the sun grew low.

At last, Bellew stopped the automobile at a place where a narrow lane,
or cart track, branched off from the high road, and wound away between
great trees.

"I leave you here," said he as he sprang from the car, "this is
Dapplemere,--the farmhouse lies over the up-land, yonder, though you
can't see it because of the trees."

"Is it far, Master George?"

"About half a mile."

"Here is the bag, sir; but--do you think it is--quite safe--?"

"Safe, John?"

"Under the circumstances, Master George, I think it would be advisable
to--to take this with you." And he held out a small revolver. Bellew
laughed, and shook his head.

"Such things aren't necessary--here in Arcadia, John,--besides, I have
my stick. So good-bye, for the present, you'll stay at the 'King's
Head,'--remember."

"Good-night, Master George, sir, goodnight! and good fortune go with
you."

"Thank you!" said Bellew, and reached out his hand, "I think we'll shake
on that, John!"

So they clasped hands, and Bellew turned, and set off along the grassy
lane. And, presently, as he went, he heard the hum of the car grow
rapidly fainter and fainter until it was lost in the quiet of
the evening.

CHAPTER XXV

_The Conspirators_

The shadows were creeping down, and evening was approaching, as Bellew
took his way