ooked up at the smooth, masterful face, and inwardly
acknowledged his opponent's power.

"I'm thinking, guv'nor," he answered slowly, "you heard all there was to
hear, and saw all there was to see; an' a bit more besides," he added,
as he thought of that precious gold watch he had so stupidly failed to
see. "Any'ow, if you're so anxious for me to go over it all again, I
wanted to know the whereabouts of a niece of mine--a young girl he took
to 'is 'ome, some weeks ago."

Mr. Vermont's eyes gleamed and his hand shook slightly with excitement,
as he lit another cigar; for evidently this was the girl at whom, he
remembered, Norgate had grumbled. If she could only be kept out of
sight, Jasper thought he saw a way to getting his beloved friend into
even deeper trouble than he had ever dreamed possible.

"You can prove it, I suppose?" he asked.

"I can," said Mr. Wilfer; though, as a matter of fact, he would have
found this rather a difficulty.

Mr. Jasper put his hand into his pocket; as we have said before, he was
not very generous when it came to spending his own money, but there were
occasions when it was necessary to buy fresh tools, and this was one of
them. He drew out some gold, which Mr. Wilfer eyed as greedily as a dog
would a bone.

"Now," said Vermont, "your address?"

"Cracknell Court, Soho, guv'nor," returned the man, his manner visibly
altering at the sight of money.

"Well, don't you alter it without my permission," Jasper said sternly.
"I may want you to do something for me; and, if so, you can get your
revenge. Meanwhile, here's something to keep you out of mischief, that's
to say, in drink; you'll be safer like that." He handed over the
money--about three pounds. "Mind! don't go selling any more forged
pictures, like the one the bond of which I hold, or you'll get caught.
They make the sentences for fraud pretty heavy nowadays."

Mr. Wilfer shivered. Up to now, he himself had never been imprisoned;
but other members of the gang had served various sentences, and their
reminiscences were not comforting.

"I understand, guv'nor," he said; "but what of the gal?"

"All you've got to do is wait till she comes back; or if you find her
about, let me know," replied Jasper. "Now, be off, and remember I can
lay my hands on you--and so can the police--any minute I like, so don't
play me any tricks. Good-night."

With that, Mr. Vermont turned on his heel and strode swiftly and
silently away.

Wilfer l