ffs.
'Tis the kind ye herd with, is't not? Give you good-even, Mr. Green."
And he went on, cool and unconcerned, and turned in through the narrow
doorway by the glover's shop to mount the stairs to Sir Richard's
lodging.

Mr. Green stood still to watch him go. Then he swore through his teeth,
and beckoned one of those whose acquaintance he had disclaimed.

"'Tis like him, ecod! to have gone in in spite of seeing me and you!
He's cool! Damned cool! But he'll be cooler yet, codso!" Then, briskly
questioning his satellite: "Is Sir Richard within, Jerry?"

"Ay," answered Jerry--a rough, heavily-built tatterdemalion. "He's been
there these two hours."

"'Tis our chance to nab 'em both, then-our last chance, maybe. The game
is up. That fine gentleman has smoked it." He was angry beyond measure.
Their plans were far from ripe, and yet to delay longer now that their
vigilance was detected was, perhaps, to allow Sir Richard to slip
through their fingers, as well as the other. "Have ye your barkers?" he
asked harshly.

Jerry tapped a heavily bulging pocket, and winked. Mr. Green thrust his
three-cornered hat a-cock over one eye, and with his hands behind the
tails of his coat, stood pondering. "Ay, pox on't!" he grumbled. "It
must be done to-night. I dursn't delay longer. We'll give the gentlemen
time to settle comfortably; then up we go to make things merry for 'em."
And he beckoned the others across.

Meanwhile Mr. Caryll had gone up with considerable misgivings. The last
letter he had received from Sir Richard--that day at Stretton House--had
been to apprise him that his adoptive father was on the point of leaving
town but that he would be returned within the week. The business that
had taken him had been again concerned with Atterbury the obstinate.
Upon another vain endeavor to dissuade the bishop from a scheme his king
did not approve had Sir Richard journeyed to Rochester. He had had his
pains for nothing. Atterbury had kept him there, entertaining him,
and seeking in his turn to engulf the agent in the business that was
toward--business which was ultimately to suck down Atterbury and his
associates. Sir Richard, however, was very firm. And when at last he
left Rochester to return to town and his adoptive son, a coolness marked
the parting of those two adherents of the Stuart dynasty.

Returned to London--whence his absence had been marked with alarm by Mr.
Green--Sir Richard had sent a message to Mr. Caryll, and t