and Austin returned with a crest-fallen look to the
table. Upon which Mrs. Spurling, and her now accepted suitor, resumed
their seats.

"You'll be as good as your word, my charmer," whispered the executioner.

"Of course," responded the widow, heaving a deep sigh. "Oh! Jack!
Jack!--you little know what a price I've paid for you!"

"Well, I'm glad those women are gone," remarked Shotbolt. "Coupling
their presence with Jack's speech, I couldn't help fearing some mischief
might ensue."

"That reminds me he's still at large," returned Ireton. "Here, Caliban,
go and fasten his padlock."

"Iss, Massa Ireton," replied the black.

"Stop, Caliban," interposed Mrs. Spurling, who wished to protract the
discovery of the escape as long as possible. "Before you go, bring me
the bottle of pine-apple rum I opened yesterday. I should like Mr.
Ireton and his friends to taste it. It is in the lower cupboard. Oh! you
haven't got the key--then _I_ must have it, I suppose. How provoking!"
she added, pretending to rummage her pockets; "one never _can_ find a
thing when one wants it."

"Never mind it, my dear Mrs. Spurling," rejoined Ireton; "we can taste
the rum when he returns. We shall have Mr. Wild here presently, and I
wouldn't for the world--Zounds!" he exclaimed, as the figure of the
thief-taker appeared at the wicket, "here he is. Off with you, Caliban!
Fly, you rascal!"

"Mr. Wild here!" exclaimed Mrs. Spurling in alarm. "Oh gracious! he's
lost."

"Who's lost?" demanded Ireton.

"The key," replied the widow.

All the turnkeys rose to salute the thief-taker, whose habitually-sullen
countenance looked gloomier than usual. Ireton rushed forward to open
the wicket for him.

"No Blueskin, I perceive, Sir," he observed, in a deferential tone, as
Wild entered the Lodge.

"No," replied Jonathan, moodily. "I've been deceived by false
information. But the wench who tricked me shall bitterly repent it. I
hope this is all. I begin to fear I might be purposely go out of the
way. Nothing has gone wrong here?"

"Nothing whatever," replied Ireton. "Jack is just gone back to the
Condemned Hold. His two wives have been here."

"Ha!" exclaimed Jonathan, with a sudden vehemence that electrified the
chief turnkey; "what's this! a spike gone! 'Sdeath! the women, you say,
have been here. He has escaped."

"Impossible, Sir," replied Ireton, greatly alarmed.

"Impossible!" echoed Wild, with a fearful imprecation. "No, Sir, it's
quite p