inally
communicated his informations. This hostile part would form an
impassible obstacle to any success with Kate, and consequently to his
great plan of obtaining the Glenflesk estate.

Hemsworth lost not a moment, after his arrival in town, in his
endeavours to have an interview with Lanty; and, being on terms of old
intimacy with the sheriff, at length persuaded him to grant him a brief
opportunity of speaking to him; a permission, under the circumstances,
most reluctantly acceded. It was near nine o'clock--the latest hour
at which a visit to the gaol was practicable--when Hemsworth presented
himself, with the sheriff's order at the gate. A brief delay ensued,
for even on such an authority, the goaler scrupled to deviate from the
directions given him, and he was admitted. Following the turnkey for
some minutes, through passages and across courts, they reached an angle
of the building dedicated to the reception of those who were held over
by the crown as "approvers" against their former friends and associates.
Many of these had been in confinement several months, the time not
having arrived when the evidence, which they were to corroborate, was
perfected; and not a few preferring the security of a prison, to the
dangers the character of an informer would expose them, to without
doors. A confused noise of voices and coarse laughter was heard as they
came near, and the turnkey, striking his bunch of keys against a heavy
door, called, "Be silent there, b----t ye, there's more trouble with
six of ye than we have with the whole condemned ward," then turning to
Hemsworth, he added, in a lower voice, "them chaps is awaitin' a passage
over seas--they've given their evidence long ago, and they're not wanted
now. That one with the cracked voice is Cope, the fellow that tracked
Parson Jackson--but here, this is your man's cell--we cannot give
you more than a quarter of an hour, and so, don't lose anymore time."
Hemsworth laid his hand on the gaoler's arm as he extended it with the
key. "One second--just wait one second," said he, as he pressed his
fingers across his brow, and seemed to reflect, then added, "Yes,
that will do--open it now, and I shall be ready to retire whenever you
please."

Whether the sound without had drowned the noise, or that his attention
was too much engaged to notice it, Lanty never stirred nor looked round,
as the heavy door was unbarred, and fastened again behind Hemsworth.
Seated in a recess of the