sir. I think he broke my windpipe, for I'm as hoarse as
a raven ever since: and I've got one or two of the shot in my cheek
still."

"Well, then, now is your time to be revenged."

"Well, I don't know about that. What he done was in self-defense; and if
I play bowls I must look for rubs."

Coventry bit his lip with impatience. After a pause, he said, "What were
you paid for that job?"

"Not half enough."

"Twenty pounds?"

"Nor nothing like it."

"I'll give you a hundred to do it again, only more effectually." He
turned very pale when he had made this offer.

"Ah," said Cole, "anybody could tell you was a gentleman."

"You accept my offer, then?"

"Nay, I mean it is easy to see you don't know trades. I musn't meddle
with Mr. Little now; he is right with the Trade."

"What, not if I pay you five times as much? say ten times then; two
hundred pounds."

"Nay, we Union chaps are not malefactors. You can't buy us to injure an
unoffending man. We have got our laws, and they are just ones, and, if a
man will break them, after due warning, the order is given to 'do' him,
and the men are named for the job, and get paid a trifle for their risk;
and the risk is not much, the Trade stand by one another too true, and
in so many ways. But if a man is right with the Trade, it is treason to
harm him. No, I mustn't move a finger against Little."

"You have set up a conscience!" said Coventry bitterly.

"You dropped yours, and I picked it up," was the Yorkshireman's ready
reply. He was nettled now.

At this moment the door was opened and shut very swiftly, and a whisper
came in through the momentary aperture, "Mind your eye, Sam Cole."

Coventry rushed to the door and looked out; there was nobody to be seen.

"You needn't trouble yourself," said Cole. "You might as well run after
the wind. That was a friendly warning. I know the voice, and Grotait
must be on to us. Now, sir, if you offered me a thousand pounds, I
wouldn't touch a hair of Mr. Little: he is right with the Trade, and
we should have Grotait and all the Trade as bitter as death against us.
I'll tell you a secret, sir, that I've kept from my wife"--(he lowered
his voice to a whisper)--"Grotait could hang me any day he chose. You
must chink your brass in some other ear, as the saying is: only mind,
you did me a good turn once, and I'll do you one now; you have been
talking to somebody else besides me, and blown yourself: so now drop
your little game, and