thoughts now took a practical form. He must bribe the prisoner to
hold his tongue.

But how? and when? and where?

After to-night there might be no opportunity of saying a word to him.

While he was debating this in his mind, Knight the butler crossed the
hall.

Coventry stopped him, and asked where the prisoner was.

"Where Squire told us to put him, sir."

"No chance of his escaping--I hope?"

"Not he, sir.

"I should like to take a look at him."

Knight demurred. "Well, sir, you see the orders are--but, of course,
master won't mind you. I'll speak to him."

"No, it is not worth while. I am only anxious the villain should be
secure." This of course was a feeler.

"Oh, there's no fear of that. Why, he is in the strong room. It's right
above yours. If you'll come with me, sir, I'll show you the door."
Coventry accompanied him, and Thomas Knight showed him a strong door
with two enormous bolts outside, both shot.

Coventry felt despair, and affected satisfaction.

Then, after a pause, he said, "But is the window equally secure?"

"Two iron bars almost as thick as these bolts: and, if it stood open,
what could he do but break his neck, and cheat the gallows? He is all
right, sir; never you fear. We sarched him from head to foot, and found
no eend o' tools in his pockets. He is a deep 'un. But we are Yorkshire
too, as the saying is. He goes to Hillsbro' town-hall to-morrow; and
glad to be shut on him."

Coventry complimented him, and agreed with him that escape was
impossible.

He then got a light, and went to his own bedroom, and sat down, cold at
heart, before the fire.

He sat in that state, till two o'clock in the morning, distracting his
brain with schemes, that were invented only to be dismissed as idle.

At last an idea came to him. He took his fishing-rod, and put the
thinner joints together, and laid them on the bed. He then opened his
window very cautiously. But as that made some noise, he remained quite
quiet for full ten minutes. Then he got upon the window-seat, and passed
the fishing rod out. After one or two attempts he struck the window
above, with the fine end.

Instantly he heard a movement above, and a window cautiously opened.

He gave a low "Hem!"

"Who's that?" whispered the prisoner, from above.

"A man who wants you to escape."

"Nay; but I have no tools."

"What do you require?"

"I think I could do summut with a screw-driver."

"I'll send you one up."

The nex