ney to satisfy Mr. Carden's prudence, and--

Grace clutched him gently with both hands, as if to hinder from leaving
her. She turned very pale, and said, "Oh my heart!"

Then she laid her head on his shoulder, and wept piteously.

He comforted her, and said, "What is it? a voyage of twelve days! And
yet I shall never have the courage to bid you good-by."

"Nor I you, my own darling."

Having come to this resolution, he was now seized with a fear that he
would be assassinated before he could carry it out; to diminish the
chances, he took up his quarters at the factory, and never went out at
night. Attached to the works was a small building near the water-side.
Jael Dence occupied the second floor of it. He had a camp-bed set up on
the first floor, and established a wire communication with the police
office. At the slightest alarm he could ring a bell in Ransome's ear. He
also clandestinely unscrewed a little postern door that his predecessors
had closed, and made a key to the lock, so that if he should ever
be compelled to go out at night he might baffle his foes, who would
naturally watch the great gate for his exit.

With all this he became very depressed and moody, and alarmed Doctor
Amboyne, who remembered his father's end.

The doctor advised him to go and see his mother for a day or two; but he
shook his head, and declined.

A prisoner detained for want of bail is allowed to communicate with his
friends, and Grotait soon let Hill know he was very angry with him for
undertaking to do Little without orders. Hill said that the job was
given him by Cole, who was Grotait's right-hand man, and Grotait had
better bail him, otherwise he might be induced to tell tales.

Grotait let him stay in prison three days, and then sent two
householders with the bail.

Hill was discharged, and went home. At dusk he turned out to find Cole,
and tracing him from one public-house to another, at last lighted on him
in company with Mr. Coventry.

This set him thinking; however, he held aloof till they parted; and then
following Cole, dunned him for his twenty pounds.

Cole gave him five pounds on account. Hill grumbled, and threatened.

Grotait sent for both men, and went into a passion, and threatened to
hang them both if they presumed to attack Little's person again in any
way. "It is the place I mean to destroy," said Grotait, "not the man."

Cole conveyed this to Coventry, and it discouraged him mightily, and he
told