entered; and, this being accomplished, he burst
into a loud laugh.

"What! not know me?" cried he--"not know your old friend with a new
face, Luke? Nor you, Titus? Nor you, who can see through a millstone,
lawyer Coates, don't you recognize----"

"Jack Palmer, as I'm a sinner!" cried Titus. "Why, this beats Banaghan.
Arrah! Jack, honey, what does this mean? Is it yourself I see in such
company? You're not robbing in earnest?"

"Indeed but I am, friend Titus," exclaimed Jack; "and _it is_ my own
self you see. I just took the liberty of borrowing Sir Piers's old
hunting-coat from the justice-room. You said my toggery wouldn't do for
the funeral. I'm no other than plain Jack Palmer, after all."

"With half a dozen aliases at your back, I dare say," cried Coates. "_I_
suspected you all along. All your praise of highwaymen was not lost upon
me. No, no; I _can_ see into a millstone, be it ever so thick."

"Well," replied Jack, "I'm sorry to see you here, friend Titus. Keep
quiet, and you shall come to no harm. As to you, Luke Bradley, you have
anticipated my intention by half an hour; I meant to set you free. For
you, Mr. Coates, you may commit all future care of your affairs to your
executors, administrators, and assigns. You will have no further need to
trouble yourself with worldly concerns," added he, levelling a pistol at
the attorney, who, however, shielded himself, in an agony of
apprehension, behind Luke's person. "Stand aside, Luke."

"I stir not," replied Luke. "I thank you for your good intention, and
will not injure you--that is, if you do not force me to do so. I am here
to defend her ladyship."

"What's that you say?" returned Jack, in surprise--"_defend_ her
ladyship?"

"With my life," replied Luke. "Let me counsel you to depart."

"Are you mad? Defend her--Lady Rookwood--your enemy--who would hang you?
Tut, tut! Stand aside, I say, Luke Bradley, or look to yourself."

"You had better consider well ere you proceed," said Luke. "You know me
of old. I have taken odds as great, and not come off the vanquished."

"The odds are even," cried Titus, "if Mr. Coates will but show fight.
I'll stand by you to the last, my dear boy. You're the right son of your
father, though on the wrong side. Och! Jack Palmer, my jewel, no wonder
you resemble Dick Turpin."

"You hear this?" cried Luke.

"Hot-headed fool!" muttered Jack.

"Why don't you shoot him on the spot?" said Wilder.

"And mar my own chance," thou