t to leave the room, damme but I'll send a brace of
bullets after you. I'm serious, I assure you." And he cocked the pistol.

By way of reply to this menace, Titus deliberately filled a stiff glass
of whisky-and-water.

"That's your last glass," said the inexorable Coates.

To return once more to Luke. He slept uneasily for some short space,
and was awakened by a sound which reached his dreaming ears and
connected itself with the visions that slumber was weaving around him.
It was some moments before he could distinctly remember where he was. He
would not venture to sleep again, though he felt overwhelmed by
drowsiness--there was a fixed pain at his heart, as if circulation were
suspended. Changing his posture, he raised himself upon one arm; he then
became aware of a scratching noise, somewhat similar to the sound he had
heard in his dream, and perceived a light gleaming through a crevice in
the oaken partition. His attention was immediately arrested, and placing
his eye close to the chink, he distinctly saw a dark lantern burning,
and by its light a man filing some implement of housebreaking. The light
fell before the hard features of the man, with whose countenance Luke
was familiar; and although only one person came within the scope of his
view, Luke could make out, from a muttered conversation that was carried
on, that he had a companion. The parties were near to him, and though
speaking in a low tone, Luke's quick ear caught the following:

"What keeps Jack Palmer, I wonder?" said he of the file. "We're all
ready for the fakement--pops primed--and I tell you what, Rob Rust, I've
made my clasp-knife as sharp as a razor, and damme, if Lady Rookwood
offers any resistance, I'll spoil her talking in future, I promise you."

Suppressed laughter from Rust followed this speech. That laugh made
Luke's blood run cold within his veins.

"Harkee, Dick Wilder, you're a reg'lar out-and-outer, and stops at
nothing, and curse me if I'd think any more of it than yourself. But
Jack's as squeamish of bloodshed as young Miss that cries at her cut
finger. It's the safer plan. Say what you will, nothing but _that_ will
stop a woman's tongue."

"I shall make short work with her ladyship to-night, anyhow. Hist! here
Jack comes."

A footstep crossed in the room, and, presently afterwards, exclamations
of surprise and smothered laughter were heard from the parties.

"Bravo, Jack! famous! that disguise would deceive the devil himse