eeplessness, and the shock
of his late encounter. But when he turned and saw Hornett's long thumb
and finger scraping at his stubbly jaws, the gesture and the attitude
of apology brought him back to mind at once. Hornett's coat sleeve was
torn, and showed his arm half way down to the elbow, but revealed no
hint of linen, The collar of his frock-coat was buttoned tightly about
his neck, and there was a sparkling metallic rime upon his cheeks and
chin and upper lip. Bommaney was ashamed before him, and afraid of him,
and only some faint reminder of self-respect and the pride of earlier
days held him back from the impulse to run away.

'You're not afraid of me, sir?' said James Hornett. He had always
smiled, and was smiling even now. The smile was no more than a
contortion of the muscles of the face, which made a long mirthless
crease on either cheek, and left the eyes untouched by the least light
of sympathy. It gave him a propitiatory dog-like look, and there was a
hint of fawning in his attitude which matched it perfectly and carried
out the likeness. 'You remember me, sir?' he went on, for Bommaney
stared at him so wildly that there seemed room for reasonable doubt
on that point. 'Hornett, sir. James Hornett Your faithful servant for
thirty years, sir.' Bommaney looked at him with haggard watering eyes,
and said nothing as yet 'It's a bit of a surprise, sir, at first, isn't
it?' Hornett went on, with his unchanging smile. There was a good deal
of hunger and even triumph in his small soul, but they found no other
outward expression, and his attitude and voice were as apologetic
and retiring as of old. 'It was rather a surprise to me, sir, when I
recognised you. Isn't it a little dangerous for you to be here, Mr.
Bommaney?'

They both started, and each looked about him at this mention of the
fugitive's name.

'Hush!' said Bommaney. 'Don't call me by that name. Come away from
here.'

A policeman strolled along the street, with an echoing tread, and as
the two slunk past him he turned a casual glance upon them. The glance
touched them like a galvanic shock, and they would have run if they had
had courage for such an indiscretion.

'What do you want with me?' asked Bommaney, when the policeman was
out of sight and hearing; Hornett walking beside him, with his lean,
propitiatory fingers at his chin, looked up with hesitating meekness.

'Well, you see, sir,' he responded, 'your fall was mine, sir; I was
supposed'--he