to the relative depth of guilt, but to the sinfulness or innocence
of a certain dastardly act for a tempting sum of money."

"I may not have put my question very philosophically," returned the
stranger, "but I would like to have your opinion as to whether you
think, under _any_ circumstances of distress--poverty, for instance,
with those dependent on one dying of hunger--a man would be justified in
destroying the power of a telegraph cable for a sum of money--part, let
us suppose, paid in advance, and the remainder after the deed had been
accomplished."

"My opinion is that no circumstances whatever would justify such an
act," said Sam with indignation. "Don't you agree with me, Robin?"

"Of _course_ I do," said Robin with even greater indignation.

"And _I_ quite agree with you, gentlemen," said the stranger, with a
wider smile than before; "but I like to have my opinions corroborated or
combated by other minds. We have now reached our destination; please
follow me, and stoop a little, for the ceiling of the passage is rather
low, and the poor people here cannot afford to light it."

The recent discussion had diverted Sam's mind from the character of the
place into which he had been led, but a suspicion which had been growing
now assailed him forcibly.

"Keep your stick handy," he whispered to Robin, at the same time
grasping more firmly a stout cudgel which he carried.

These precautions seemed needless, however, for the stranger, opening
with a latch-key a door at the further end of the dark passage, ushered
them into a dimly lighted room, where about a dozen men were seated
round a table drinking and smoking.

The men rose on the entrance of the visitors and received them with
courtesy.

"Mr Davis will be glad to see you, sir," said one; "he has been in much
anxiety, but here he comes and will speak for himself."

A door at the other end of the room opened, and a tall slightly-built
man entered. Sam saw at once that he was not Davis.

"Fool!" growled the man, with a savage look at the stranger who had
conducted them there, "you have brought the _wrong man_!"

"I had already begun to suspect as much," returned the other, with a
light laugh.

Swallowing his disgust, apparently with an effort, the slim man turned
to Sam and said, "A mistake has been made, sir. One or two of my
friends here will conduct you to any part of the city you may wish to go
to."

"I require no assistance," said Sam, flushin