e, sir," replied Lawler, while he drew forth the two
pistols from the same breast-pocket he had taken the letters.

Hemsworth first examined one, and then the other, leisurely, passing
the ramrod into each in turn, and then opening the pans, inspected the
priming, adjusting the powder carefully with his finger. "You spoil such
pistols as these, by loading with two bullets, Lanty," said he, as he
handed them back to him. "The bore is too perfect for such course usage.
Now, this is a less delicate weapon, and will bear harder usage," and
he drew forth a short pistol, containing four revolving barrels, each as
wide as the bore of a musket. Lanty gazed in astonishment and terror
at the murderous implement, into which the hand fitted by a handle like
that of a saw. Hemsworth played the spring by which the barrels moved,
with a practised finger, and seemed to exult in the expression of
Lanty's terror, as he watched them. Then quickly replacing the weapon,
he resumed--"Well, I am glad, for your own sake, that you are more
reasonable. You ought to know, that I never place dependence on only one
man, for any single service. Such would be merely to play the part
of slave, instead of master. But, first of all, how did you become
possessed of these letters?"

"I was charged by Mark to deliver them to the Delegates, and as they
never saw his hand-writing, I just copied the letters, and kept all
the originals, so that he has received his answers regularly, and never
suspects what has happened."

"All right so far--and the younger brother--what of him?" "Oh, he is
too much under old M'Nab's influence to be caught. I wouldn't say but
that he's a Protestant this minute."

"You appear to be greatly shocked at your suspicion, Lanty," said
Hemsworth, smiling. "Well, well; we must hope for the best; and now as
to this other fellow--where and how can I see him--this Talbot I mean?"

"Ay, that's the puzzle," replied Lanty, with a greater appearance of
ease in his manner than before. "You never can meet him when you look
for him; but he's at your elbow every day, twenty times, if you don't
want him."

"Could you not manage a meeting for me with him, down here, Lanty?--I'll
take care of the rest."

"I don't think so; he's a wary fellow; he gave me a fright once or twice
already, by a word he let drop. I am not easy in his company at all."

"False or true, he would be an immense service to us," said Hemsworth,
musingly. "If I only could