; and I was to ask you for an hour's
absence."

"Let him have the whole afternoon. I'll not have a soul in this but us
two. Now come close, and tell me."

They sat opposite each other, and put their heads together over the
table, and the following dialogue passed almost in a whisper. To see
them, you would have thought they were conspiring against the law,
instead of combining to hide a lawful act from the violaters of the law.

"I can forge the blades a dozen miles from Hillsborough."

"Not you; you will be told of. That won't do."

"I shall not be told of; for nobody will know but you. I shall only
forge at night; and the building is out of the world, and wedged in, out
of sight, between two bleak hills. Sir, it is a deserted church."

"What, forge blades in a church?"

"A deserted church; why not?"

"Little, you are A 1. Go on."

"I can get the blades ground by a friend at Birmingham; and my mother
and I can put them together at home. The complete articles will come to
you in parcels of a certain colored paper, invoiced in cipher outside,
so that they need not be opened; you can trust the invoice, and dispatch
them to your London agent."

"All right."

"The steel you must supply me at the current price, and charge it
against me."

"Certainly. But your price per gross? For this work can't be done by
time."

"Of course not." And Henry named a price per gross at which Cheetham
lifted up his hands. "Why, you'll take nine pounds a week at that!"

"Ay, and more," said Henry, coolly. "But I sha'n't make it. Why, this
scheme entails no end of expenses. A house, and stables with back
entrance. A swift horse, to gallop to the forge at sunset, and back
by noon. A cart to take the things to the railway and back, and to the
parcel delivery for you. And, besides that, I must risk my neck, riding
over broken ground at night: and working night and day shortens life.
You can't reduce these things to Labor and Capital. It's Life, Labor,
and Capital."

"Hallo! There's a new cry. I tell ye what; you know too much for me. You
read the Beehive. I take you at your price."

Then he had a misgiving. "That old Smitem's as crafty as a fox. If he
finds you stay here, with no visible employment, he will soon be down on
us."

"Ay; but in the day-time I shall appear as a carver of wood, and also an
inspector of factories for Dr. Amboyne. Who will suspect me of a night
trade, as well as two day trades?"

Cheetham slapped th