about; but just as
I was turning away from the window I saw a tall, coarse-looking fellow
pass into the oyster-shop opposite, giving a glance up towards me as he
went; the next minute a man in a long camlet cloak left the shop, and
walked down the street; and, muffled though he was from head to foot, I
knew it was Towers.

"I suppose my conscience wasn't all right, for I sank down into a chair
as sick as if I 'd been a month in a fever. I saw they had set a watch
on me, and I knew well the men I had to deal with. If Towers or Wake
so much as suspected me, they 'd make all safe before they ventured
further. I looked out again, and there was the big man, with a dark
blue woollen comforter round his throat, reading the advertisements on a
closed shutter, and then strolling negligently along the street. Though
his hat was pressed down over his eyes, I saw them watching me as he
went; and such was my terror that I fancied they were still gazing at
me after he turned the corner.

"Fully determined now to make my escape, I sat down and wrote a few
lines to Collins, saying that a relation of mine, from whom I had some
small expectations, was taken suddenly ill, and sent for me to come over
and see him, so that I was obliged to start for Ireland by that night's
mail. I never once alluded to Jersey, but concluded with a kindly
message to all friends, and a hasty good-bye.

"Desiring to have my servant out of the way, I despatched him with this
note, and then set about making my own preparations for departure. It
was now later than I suspected, so that I had barely time to pack some
clothes hastily into a carpet-bag, and cautiously descended the stairs
with it in my hand, opened the street door and issued forth. Before
I had, however, gone ten yards from the door, the large man was at
my side, and in a gruff voice offered to carry my bag. I refused as
roughly, and walked on towards the cab-stand. I selected a cab, and said
Euston Square; and as I did so, the big fellow mounted the box and sat
down beside the driver. I saw it was no use, and, affecting to have
forgotten something at my lodgings, I got out, paid the cab, and
returned home. How cowardly! you'd say. No, Stocmar, I knew my men: it
was _not_ cowardly. I knew that, however they might abandon a project or
forego a plan, they would never, never forgive a confederate that tried
to betray them. No, no," muttered he, below his breath; "no man shall
tell me it was cowardice