I could readily
fancy him doing, and had finally gorged it. He was to have received five
hundred pounds next day on consideration of the arrival of intelligence
from the people to whom he had betrayed Ruffiano, and he confessed that
he had been promised other work of the same kind.

"I swear to you, Fyffe," he declared, "that I'd never have done it at
all if I hadn't had the most solemn assurances that nothing would happen
to the old man."

"Do you think," I asked him, "that the solemn assurances of a spy are
worth much in any case?"

"They won't hurt him," said Brunow; "I made sure of that beforehand. I
give you my word of honor. I was careful about it, because I have rather
a liking for him."

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him if, having rather a liking for
him, he had betrayed him to the Austrians, what he would have done if he
had rather a dislike for him. But it could serve no purpose to argue at
all in such a case, and it was hopeless to imagine that any exposure of
himself would have made the man realize the perfidy of his own nature.

"The world is before you," I said, "and, so far as I am concerned, you
may go where you will. I do not pretend to offer you any security from
the vengeance of the men whose oath you have betrayed. I should be
powerless to do that, however much I wished it. You must shift for
yourself."

"Very well," he answered, sullenly; and, rising to his feet, he began
to button his coat and to gather together his hat and gloves and
walking-cane. Then he made a movement to go, but half-way to the door
stopped irresolutely. I thought he was about to speak again, but after
a pause of a second or two he went on, opened the door with an unsteady
hand, and went out without closing it behind him. The man I had told to
wait outside must have been upon the watch, for I heard his voice at the
very instant at which Brunow set foot in the narrow passage.

"Well, sir?" he said.

"Well?" said Brunow.

"I am sorry to press this claim, sir," said the man, "but I have my
instructions, and I can't help it. If you'll give me your word that
you will settle in the morning, I will wait till then. But it's no use
making any bogus promise."

"I suppose you don't mean to lose sight of me?" Brunow asked.

"That's the state of the case, sir," the man answered.

"H'm!" said Brunow, in a casual tone; "got anybody with you now?"

"Sheriff's officer in a hackney-coach down-stairs," the man responded.