ad
boy, Mr. Cassilis; I do not seek to deny that; but it was after my
wife's death, and you know, with a widower, it's a different thing:
sinful--I won't say no; but there is a gradation, we shall hope. And
talking of that---- Hark!" he broke out suddenly, his hand raised, his
fingers spread, his face racked with interest and terror. "Only the
rain, bless God!" he added, after a pause, and with indescribable
relief.

For some seconds he lay back among the pillows like a man near to
fainting; then he gathered himself together, and, in somewhat tremulous
tones, began once more to thank me for the share I was prepared to take
in his defence.

"One question, sir," said I, when he had paused. "Is it true that you
have money with you?"

He seemed annoyed by the question, but admitted with reluctance that he
had a little.

"Well," I continued, "it is their money they are after, is it not? Why
not give it up to them?"

"Ah!" replied he, shaking his head, "I have tried that already, Mr.
Cassilis; and alas that it should be so! but it is blood they want."

"Huddlestone, that's a little less than fair," said Northmour. "You
should mention that what you offered them was upwards of two hundred
thousand short. The deficit is worth a reference; it is for what they
call a cool sum, Frank. Then, you see, the fellows reason in their clear
Italian way; and it seems to them, as indeed it seems to me, that they
may just as well have both while they're about it--money and blood
together, by George, and no more trouble for the extra pleasure."

"Is it in the pavilion?" I asked.

"It is; and I wish it were in the bottom of the sea instead," said
Northmour; and then suddenly--"What are you making faces at me for?" he
cried to Mr. Huddlestone, on whom I had unconsciously turned my back.
"Do you think Cassilis would sell you?"

Mr. Huddlestone protested that nothing had been further from his mind.

"It is a good thing," retorted Northmour in his ugliest manner. "You
might end by wearying us.--What were you going to say?" he added,
turning to me.

"I was going to propose an occupation for the afternoon," said I. "Let
us carry that money out, piece by piece, and lay it down before the
pavilion door. If the _carbonari_ come, why, it's theirs at any rate."

"No, no," cried Mr. Huddlestone; "it does not, it cannot belong to them!
It should be distributed _pro rata_ among all my creditors."

"Come now, Huddlestone," said Northmour, "no