.

He then turned the conversation, and, soon after, went away. He had been
adroit enough to put his questions in the languid way of a man who had
no personal curiosity, and was merely discharging a commission.

Mr. Ransome, as a matter of form, took a short note of the conversation;
but attached no importance to it. However, he used the means at his
command to find out Little's abode. Not that Mr. Coventry had positively
asked him to do it; but, his attention being thus unexpectedly called to
the subject, he felt desirous to talk to Little on his own account.

Mr. Coventry went straight to "The Cutlers' Arms," but he went slowly.
A powerful contest was now going on within him; jealousy and rage
urged him onward, honor and gratitude held him back. Then came his
self-deceiving heart, and suggested that Miss Carden had been the first
to break her promise (she had let Jael Dence into Little's secret),
and that he himself was being undermined by cunning and deceit: strict
notions of honor would be out of place in such a combat. Lastly, he felt
it his DUTY to save Miss Carden from a degrading connection.

All these considerations, taken together, proved too strong for his good
faith; and so stifled the voice of conscience, that it could only keep
whispering against the deed, but not prevent it.

He went direct to "The Cutlers' Arms." He walked into the parlor and
ordered a glass of brandy-and-water, and asked if he could see Mr.
Grotait, privately. Mr. Grotait came in.

"Sit down, Mr. Grotait. Will you have any thing?"

"A glass of ale, sir, if you please."

When this had been brought, and left, and the parties were alone,
Coventry asked him whether he could receive a communication under a
strict promise of secrecy.

"If it is a trade matter, sir, you can trust me. A good many have."

"Well then, I can tell you something about a workman called Little. But
before I say a word, I must make two express conditions. One is, that no
violence shall be used toward him; the other, that you never reveal to
any human creature, it was I who told you."

"What, is he working still?"

"My conditions, Mr. Grotait?"

"I promise you absolute secrecy, sir, as far as you are concerned. As to
your other condition, the matter will work thus: if your communication
should be as important as you think, I can do nothing--the man is not in
the saw-trade--I shall carry the information to two other secretaries,
and shall not tell them I h