And if I hadn't been down in
that very kitchen upon a voyage of discovery the other day, I'd have had
more reason to disbelieve the evidence of my own eyes. The light was on,
too. Lucky for us we didn't pop our heads up at the moment when someone
was there. But then the servants are all gone. Borkins is keeping the
house open until after the trial. So it was Borkins who was using that
light, that's pretty obvious; and our necks have been spared by an inch
or two less than I had imagined. We must hurry; time's short, and there's
a good deal to be got through this night, I can tell you!"

"Yessir," said Dollops, not knowing what else to say, for Cleek was
keeping up a sort of running monologue of his ideas of the case. "Don't
think much uv this 'ere passage, anyway, do you?"

"No--narrower than the rest. But it may end just where we want to go.
'Journeys end in lovers' meetings' the poet sings, but not this kind of
a journey--no, not exactly. We'll find the hangman's rope at the end of
this riddle, Dollops, or I'm very much mistaken; and I've an
uncomfortable idea as to who will swing in the noose."

For some time after that they pressed on in silence. Here and there along
the passage the walls opened out suddenly into little cut-out places
filled as ever with their built-up sacks. Each time Cleek passed them he
chuckled aloud, and then--once more his face would become grim. For some
moments they groped along in the gloom, their heads bent, to prevent them
bumping the low mud ceiling, their lips silent, but in the hearts of each
a sort of dull dread. Merriton Towers! Borkins, perhaps. But what if
Borkins and Merriton had been working hand-in-glove, and then, somehow or
other, had had a split? That would account for a good deal, and in
particular the man's attitude toward his master.... Cleek's brain ran on
ahead of his feet, his brows drew themselves into a knot, his mouth was
like a thin line of crimson in the granite-like mask of his face.

Of a sudden he stopped and pointed ahead of him. Still another flight of
stairs met their eyes, but they were of newer, more recent make, and
composed of common deal, unvarnished and mudstained with the marks of
many feet up and down their surface.

Cleek drew a deep breath, and his face relaxed.

"The end of the journey, Dollops," he said softly.

Then, without more ado, he mounted the stairs, and laid his shoulder to
the heavy door.

CHAPTER XXVI

JUSTICE--AND JUST