shoulder.

"Well, it's this way," said Rowley; "Mr. Powl have been at me! It's to
play the spy! I thought he was at it from the first! From the first I
see what he was after--coming round and round, and hinting things! But
to-night he outs with it plump! I'm to let him hear all what you're to
do beforehand, he says; and he gave me this for an arnest"--holding up
half a guinea; "and I took it, so I did! Strike me sky-blue scarlet!"
says he, adducing the words of the mock oath; and he looked askance at
me as he did so.

I saw that he had forgotten himself, and that he knew it. The expression
of his eye changed almost in the passing of the glance from the
significant to the appealing--from the look of an accomplice to that of
a culprit; and from that moment he became the model of a well-drilled
valet.

"Sky-blue scarlet?" repeated the lawyer. "Is the fool delirious?"

"No," said I; "he is only reminding me of something."

"Well--and I believe the fellow will be faithful," said Romaine. "So you
are a friend of Mr. Anne's too?" he added to Rowley.

"If you please, sir," said Rowley.

"'Tis something sudden," observed Romaine, "but it may be genuine
enough. I believe him to be honest. He comes of honest people. Well,
George Rowley, you might embrace some early opportunity to earn that
half-guinea by telling Mr. Powl that your master will not leave here
till noon to-morrow, if he go even then. Tell him there are a hundred
things to be done here, and a hundred more that can only be done
properly at my office in Holborn. Come to think of it--we had better see
to that first of all," he went on, unlocking the door. "Get hold of
Powl, and see. And be quick back, and clear me up this mess."

Mr. Rowley was no sooner gone than the lawyer took a pinch of snuff, and
regarded me with somewhat of a more genial expression.

"Sir," said he, "it is very fortunate for you that your face is so
strong a letter of recommendation. Here am I, a tough old practitioner,
mixing myself up with your very distressing business; and here is this
farmer's lad, who has the wit to take a bribe and the loyalty to come
and tell you of it--all, I take it, on the strength of your appearance.
I wish I could imagine how it would impress a jury!" says he.

"And how it would affect the hangman, sir?" I asked.

"_Absit omen!_" said Mr. Romaine devoutly.

We were just so far in our talk, when I heard a sound that brought my
heart into my mouth: the sou