ould be implicated in the consequences of their
crimes. These are all strong reasons, Wilton, powerful, mighty
reasons, and I find now, alas I--I find now, most bitterly--that he who
seeks even the best ends, in dark and tortuous ways, is sure, sooner
or later, to involve himself in circumstances where he can neither
act nor refuse to act, neither speak nor be silent, without a crime,
a danger and a punishment. In that situation I have placed myself;
and I tell you that even now, since I have entered this room, I have
determined to call upon my own head those dangers, if not that fate,
which the mistake I have committed well deserves. I will frustrate
these men's designs. They shall not commit the act they purpose. But
yet I will betray no man; I will give no man up to death. They shall
not wring it from me; but they shall be sufficiently warned. Now,
however, let us leave all this, and only inquire how this girl can be
saved from their hands. You, Wilton, must be the person to rescue
her, for I feel sure that your fate and hers are bound up together. I
feel sure, too," he added with a faint smile, "that she would
rather it were your hand saved her than that of any one else. I have
seen you together more than once, remember. But how it is to be done
is the question. My time must be given to other things, for from
tidings I have received not a moment is to be lost. They have taken
such means that I find there are only two whom I can trust out of
very many who were with me near London. I have no time to send
either into Dorsetshire or Sussex, and the people there may have been
tampered with also. Besides, as we cannot call in the power of the
law upon our side, it would need a number to effect our purpose."
"But I will call in the power of the law," replied Wilton. "I have a
Messenger with the Secretary of State's warrant at my command; and
wherever this place may be, I can in a moment raise such a force in
the neighbourhood as will enable me to rescue her, and capture those
who have committed so daring an outrage.
"Ay, but that is what must not be, Wilton," replied Green. "There is
not one of those men whom you would capture whose head would be worth
ten days' purchase, were he within the walls of Newgate or the Tower.
No, no! to that I cannot consent. Her freedom must be effected
somehow, but their liberty not lost. I must think over it this night.
Where can I find you to-morrow morning early?"
"At my own lodgings," replied Wilton, "not four streets