part of your
sex, at discretion. You will find resistance of no avail." And he
stepped boldly towards her.

Lady Rookwood pulled the trigger. The pistol flashed in the pan. She
flung away the useless weapon without a word.

"Ha, ha!" said Jack, as he leisurely stooped to pick up the pistol, and
approached her ladyship; "the bullet is not yet cast that is to be my
billet. Here," said he, dealing Rust a heavy thump upon the shoulder
with the butt-end of the piece, "take back your snapper, and look you
prick the touchhole, or your barking-iron will never bite for you. And
now, madam, I must take the liberty of again handing you to a seat. Dick
Wilder, the cord--quick. It distresses me to proceed to such lengths
with your ladyship--but safe bind, safe find, as Mr. Coates would say."

"You will not bind me, ruffian."

"Your ladyship is very much mistaken--I have no alternative--your
ladyship's wrist is far too dexterous to be at liberty. I must
furthermore request of your ladyship to be less vociferous--you
interrupt business, which should be transacted with silence and
deliberation."

Lady Rookwood's rage and vexation at this indignity were beyond all
bounds. Resistance, however, was useless, and she submitted in silence.
The cord was passed tightly round her arms, when it flashed upon her
recollection for the first time that Coates and Tyrconnel, who were in
charge of her captive in the lower corridor, might be summoned to her
assistance. This idea no sooner crossed her mind than she uttered a loud
and prolonged scream.

"'Sdeath!" cried Jack; "civility is wasted here. Give me the gag, Rob."

"Better slit her squeaking-pipe at once," replied Rust, drawing his
clasped knife; "she'll thwart everything."

"The gag, I say, not _that_."

"I can't find the gag," exclaimed Wilder, savagely. "Leave Rob Rust to
manage her--he'll silence her, I warrant you, while you and I rummage
the room."

"Ay, leave her to me," said the other miscreant. "Go about your
business, and take no heed. Her hands are fast--she can't scratch. I'll
do it with a single gash--send her to join her lord, whom she loved so
well, before he's under ground. They'll have something to see when they
come home from the master's funeral--their mistress _cut and dry_ for
another. Ho, ho!"

"Mercy, mercy!" shrieked Lady Rookwood.

"Ay, ay, I'll be merciful," said Rust, brandishing his knife before her
eyes. "I'll not be long about it. Leave her to me--I'