make any trouble if you treat me properly. Give me a few pounds
and I'll go back to London the first thing in the morning."

"I'll give you money if you return to-night," Foster said curtly. "Get
in the car and we'll drive you as far as Maley Junction. Come on."

"I will not come on," Chaffey said with an assumption of his old
dignity. "You give me the money and I'll go to town early in the
morning. I can't go before, because I have heard something. There's a
trial coming off here to-morrow morning, and I am bound to see it. You
don't suppose I live on what I get from you. If the trial turns out as I
hope it will, it will put a lump in my pocket. Now what is the good of
standing frowning at me like that? I tell you I'm not going back to
London to-night. I won't go till eight o'clock to-morrow morning. If you
don't help me, I know a man who will give me a tenner cheerfully to hear
how I monkey with the fruit baskets in Covent Garden. But do as you
please. I don't mind lying in a ditch till morning, and I don't mind
tramping to town to-morrow. It wouldn't be the first time I've done
both. Not that I want to quarrel with you, Mr. Foster; if you do the
fair thing by me, I'll do the fair thing by you. Give me a quid or two
so that I can get some supper and a bed, and I'll promise not to come
near Seton Manor again. What's more, if the trial turns out all right,
I'll send a message to Mr. Copley."

"Oh, give him money and let him have his way," Copley cried impatiently.
"There isn't much chance of drumming sense into him to-night."

A whispered conversation between Copley and Foster followed, then three
sovereigns changed hands and Chaffey departed along the road with the
air of a man who has an object in life.

"You have done the right thing," he said. "I knew you would, when you
came to think of it, and I'll let Mr. Copley know all about the trial.
Good-night, gentlemen, and good luck to you."

So Chaffey vanished into the darkness.

CHAPTER XXVI

A SECOND TRIAL

Despite his cheery optimism, Joe Raffle did not appear so gay as usual.
He seemed to have something on his mind, and those under him noticed
that now and then he spoke with a sharpness that was not customary. In
fact, the groom was troubled. He had been glad to see his old master
again and to know that his small conspiracy looked like setting Harry
Fielden on his feet once more. But when he came to review the position
of affairs he did not feel ab