had a suspicion that Jonas
had been concerned in his father's death.

As an experiment Tigg boldly charged him with it one day, and knew in an
instant, by the way Jonas's face whitened with fear, that he had
stumbled on the truth. He then told Jonas he not only must put into the
company more of his own money, but must persuade Pecksniff to do
likewise.

Jonas dared not now refuse. He thought of escaping to some other
country, but wherever he turned he found Tigg's spies watching, and at
last, he determined on a second murder to hide the first--the murder of
Tigg, who knew his secret.

Tigg did not forget his plan to ensnare Pecksniff. To do this he took
Jonas by carriage from London to Salisbury and, mile by mile, as they
sped, the latter laid his plans. Near their destination accident came
near assisting him. In the storm the carriage was upset and Tigg was
thrown under the horses' feet. Jonas lashed the struggling horses,
hoping they would trample and kill his companion, but the driver pulled
him out just in time.

They finally reached The Blue Dragon Inn, and there, the next day, Jonas
brought Pecksniff to dine with Tigg, and the latter told the architect
all about his wonderful company. Though Pecksniff pretended he took the
idea as a joke, yet the thought of cheating other people for big profits
was very attractive to him. Before the evening was over he had fallen
into the trap and had promised next day to give Tigg his money.

Jonas, his part of the bargain finished, hurried back to London. There,
after telling Mercy not to disturb him, as he expected to sleep all next
day, he locked himself into his room. When it was dark he dressed
himself in a rough suit that he had prepared for disguise, let himself
out by a rear way and took the stage back again to the village where he
had left Tigg with Pecksniff.

He lay in wait in a wood through which Tigg passed after his last call
on the architect, and there he killed him with a club. Then he went
swiftly back to London and let himself into his room again, thinking no
one had noticed his absence.

But there had been an eye at the shutter of the window in the house
opposite that did not fail to observe Jonas when he went and when he
came. And this eye belonged to Nadgett, the spy.

IV

WHAT CAME OF MARTIN'S TRIP TO AMERICA

While these things were occurring, much had happened to Martin and Mark
Tapley far away in America.

The sailing vessel on which the