o close and accurate were all these details,
so circumstantial every part of the story, that I perceived the plan
must have been long prepared, and only waiting for a favorable moment
for execution. With this talk he occupied the whole way, till I reached
my lodgings.

"'And now, Paul,' said he, 'before we part, give me your word of honor
once more.'

"'There 's my pledge,' said I, 'and there 's my hand. So long as I hear
nothing, and see nothing, I know nothing.' And we said good-night, and
separated.

"So long as I was talking with Collins," continued Paten,--"so long, in
fact, as I was taking my own side in the discussion,--I did not see any
difficulty in thus holding myself aloof from the scheme, and not taking
any part whatever in the game played out before me; but when I found
myself alone in my room, and began to conjure up an inquest and a trial,
and all the searching details of a cross-examination, I trembled from
head to foot. I remember to this hour how I walked to and fro in my
room, putting questions to myself aloud, and in the tone of an examining
counsel, till my heart sickened with fear; and when at last I lay down,
wearied but not sleepy, on my bed, it was to swear a solemn vow that
nothing on earth should induce me to go over to Jersey.

"The next day I was ill and tired, and I kept my bed, telling my servant
to let no one disturb me on any pretext Towers called, but was not
admitted. Collins came twice, and tried hard to see me, but my man was
firm, so that Tom was fain to write a few words on a card, in pencil:
'H. is ill at Limmer's; but it is only del. tremens, and he will be all
right by Saturday. The boat leaves Blackwall at eleven. Don't fail to be
in time.' This was Thursday. There was no time to lose, if I only knew
what was best to be done. I 'll not weary you with the terrible tale of
that day's tortures; how I thought over every expedient in turn, and in
turn rejected it; now I would go to Hawke, and tell him everything; now
to the Secretary of State at the Home Office; now to Scotland Yard, to
inform the police; then I bethought me of trying to dissuade Towers and
the others from the project; and at last I resolved to make a 'bolt'
of it, and set out for Ireland by the night mail, and lie hid in some
secluded spot till all was over. About four o'clock I got up, and,
throwing on my dressing-gown, I walked to the window. It was a dark,
dull day, with a thin rain falling, and few persons