way to lay me in a heap at his feet and to sow the seeds
of that blinding head-ache, which has afflicted me by spells ever since.
But this termination of the affair was no more than I had feared from
the beginning; and indeed it was as much to protect Mrs. Blake from
the wrath of these men, as from any requirements of the situation I had
assumed the disguise I then wore. I therefore did not allow this mishap
to greatly trouble me, unpleasant as it was at the time, but, as soon
as ever I could do so, rose from the floor and throwing off my strange
habiliments, proceeded to finish up to my satisfaction, the work already
so successfully begun.

CHAPTER XVIII. LOVE AND DUTY

Dismissing the men who had assisted us in the capture of these two hardy
villains, we ranged our prisoners before us.

"Now," said Mr. Gryce, "no fuss and no swearing; you are in for it, and
you might as well take it quietly as any other way."

"Give me a clutch on that girl, that's all," said her father, "Where is
she? Let me see her; every father has a right to see his own daughter,"

"You shall see her," returned my superior, "but not till her husband is
here to protect her."

"Her husband? ah, you know about that do you?" growled the heavy voice
of the son. "A rich man they say he is and a proud one. Let him come
and look at us lying here like dogs and say how he will enjoy having his
wife's father and brother grinding away their lives in prison."

"Mr. Blake is coming," quoth Mr. Gryce, who by some preconcerted signal
from the window had drawn that gentleman across the street. "He will
tell you himself that he considers prison the best place for you. Blast
you! but he--"

"But he, what?" inquired I, as the door opened and Mr. Blake with a pale
face and agitated mien entered the room.

The wretch did not answer. Rousing from the cowering position in which
they had both lain since their capture, the father and son struggled
up in some sort of measure to their feet, and with hot, anxious eyes
surveyed the countenance of the gentleman before them, as if they felt
their fate hung upon the expression of his pallid face. The son was the
first to speak.

"How do you do, brother-in-law," were his sullen and insulting words.

Mr. Blake shuddered and cast a look around.

"My wife?" murmured he.

"She is well," was the assurance given by Mr. Gryce, "and in a room not
far from this. I will send for her if you say so."

"No, not yet," cam