t. He waited, however, a
few minutes till the person who had given him the packet had re-entered
the gate, and then took his way back to the Bear. He could not,
however, help occasionally looking round to observe whether his steps
were followed. He felt that he was engaged in some secret transaction;
and from some of the remarks which Long Sam had let drop, as well as the
appearance of the concealed Jesuit in his society, he could not help
fearing that the plot afoot was against the welfare of the king. He
reached the inn, however, in safety, and described exactly to Long Sam
all he had seen.

"But you must tell me honestly," he said, "whether this matter has any
thing to do with any proceeding which may injure the king. As I watched
him just now, I thought of the many brave actions which he has
performed, and his calmness and courage at the present time, and could
not help feeling that I would rather fight for him than against him."

"You are a foolish young man!" answered Long Sam, in a more angry tone
than he had ever used towards Jack. "Follow my directions, and all will
be right. I do not want to hurt your feelings," he added, seeing that
Jack's colour came to his cheek. "And now I must leave you."

"As to that," answered Jack, "I have no wish to quarrel with you, or any
other man; but it strikes me I have been made a `cat's-paw' of, and I
tell you frankly I should like to know our object in coming to London."

"Then as frankly I will tell you--I cannot give it," answered Long Sam.
"If you don't know your own interests, it's your own fault; but remain
here a few days longer, and I have no doubt you will learn all you wish
to know, and probably much more than I know now."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

THE CONSPIRACY.

Several days passed by after this conversation, during which Long Sam
was constantly absent. Other circumstances had occurred which made Jack
more suspicious than ever. He had been waiting all day for his
companion, when, as Long Sam had not returned at ten o'clock at night,
it being past the usual time of retiring, Jack went to his bedroom, into
which, as the entrance was in rather a public position, he securely
bolted himself. After he had been asleep for some time he awoke with a
start, and was greatly surprised to hear voices close to him. At first,
he thought himself transported back to the old house at the Hagg, and
that the sounds he heard proceeded from the ghosts which were said t