ts in the roof and crevices between the
upper logs the interior of the tobacco house looked mysterious,
sinister, threatening. Here and there tobacco still hung from the poles
which crossed from wall to wall, and in the partial light the long,
dusky masses looked wonderfully like other hanging things. The great
casks beneath had the appearance of shadowy scaffolds, and the men,
sitting or standing against them, looked larger than life. All was dusk,
subdued, save where a stray sunbeam, sifting through a crack in the
opposite wall, lit the ghastly face and shaven crown of the
Muggletonian.

Landless, leaning against a cask, addressed a man of a grave and
resolute bearing--one of the newly acquired servants of Verney Manor.

"Major Havisham, you are a wise and a brave man. I will gladly listen to
any counsel you may have to give anent this matter."

Havisham shook his head. "I have nothing to say. The spirit of the
father lives in the son. Skillful in planning, bold in action was Warham
Landless!"

"I am but the tool of Robert Godwyn," said Landless. "You approve, then,
of our arrangements?"

"Entirely. It is a daring enterprise, but if it succeeds--" he drew a
long breath.

"And if it fails," said Landless, "there is freedom yet."

The other nodded. "Yes, death hath few terrors for us."

"What is death?" cried the hectic youth. "A short, dim passage from
darkness into light; the antechamber of the white court of God; the
curtain that we lift; the veil that we tear--and SEE! My soul longeth
for death, yea, even fainteth for the courts of God! But He will not
call His servants until His work is done. Wherefore let us haste to rise
up and slay, to work the Lord's work, and go from hence!"

"Yea!" cried the Muggletonian. "I fear not death! I fear not the Throne
and the Judgment seat. The Two Witnesses will speak for me! But Death is
not upon us; he passeth by the weak, and seizeth upon the strong. The
Malignants shall die, for the word of the Lord has gone out against
them. 'Thy foot shall be dipped in the blood of thy enemies, and the
tongue of thy dogs into the same! They shall fall by the sword, they
shall be a portion for foxes; as smoke is drawn away so shall they
vanish, as wax melteth before the fire so shall they perish! He that
sitteth in the heavens shall have them in derision. And the righteous
shall rejoice in His vengeance!'"

"Amen," drawled Trail through his nose. "Verily, we will fatten on the
go