a little softened. "Those
tears will do you good."

"Do not distress him, dear father," said Winifred; "he suffers deeply.
Oh, Jack! repent, while it is yet time, of your evil conduct. I will
pray for you."

"I cannot repent,--I cannot pray," replied Jack, recovering his hardened
demeanour. "I should never have been what I am, but for you."

"How so?" inquired Winifred.

"I loved you," replied Jack,--"don't start--it is over now--I loved you,
I say, as a boy. _hopelessly_, and it made me desperate. And now I find,
when it is too late, that I _might_ have deserved you--that I am as well
born as Thames Darrell. But I mustn't think of these things, or I shall
grow mad. I have said your life is in danger, Thames. Do not slight my
warning. Sir Rowland Trenchard is aware of your return to England. I saw
him last night at Jonathan Wild's, after my escape from the New Prison.
He had just arrived from Manchester, whence he had been summoned by that
treacherous thief-taker. I overheard them planning your assassination.
It is to take place to-night."

"O Heavens!" screamed Winifred, while her father lifted up his hands in
silent horror.

"And when I further tell you," continued Jack, "that, after yourself and
my mother, _I_ am the next heir to the estates of my grandfather, Sir
Montacute Trenchard, you will perhaps own that my caution is
sufficiently disinterested."

"Could I credit your wild story, I might do so," returned Thames, with a
look of perplexity.

"Here are Jonathan Wild's written instructions to Quilt Arnold,"
rejoined Sheppard, producing the pocket-book he had found in the
janizary's clothes. "This letter will vouch for me that a communication
has taken place between your enemies."

Thames glanced at the despatch, and, after a moment's reflection,
inquired, "In what way is the attempt upon my life to be made?"

"That I couldn't ascertain," replied Jack; "but I advise you to be upon
your guard. For aught I know, they may be in the neighbourhood at this
moment."

"Here!" ejaculated Wood, with a look of alarm. "Oh lord! I hope not."

"This I do know," continued Jack,--"Jonathan Wild superintends the
attack."

"Jonathan Wild!" repeated the carpenter, trembling. "Then it's all over
with us. Oh dear!--how sorry I am I ever left Wych Street. We may be all
murdered in this unprotected place, and nobody be the wiser."

"There's some one in the garden at this moment," cried Jack; "I saw a
face at the window