e bishop, requesting that the gold be
used for the good of the church!"

"A devilish good joke, I call that," laughed Lord Farquhart. "And they
say, too, that the poor old bishop is actually afraid to use the money
for fear it--why, I really believe he is afraid that his Satanic
majesty did have some part in the prank."

"And old Grimsby swears he saw the fellow's tail and cloven hoof when
he was waylaid by him," commented Lindley.

"I'd not heard that Lord Grimsby had been attacked by this
highwayman." This was Ashley's first entrance into the conversation.

"Attacked!" the three men cried in chorus.

"Why, he was held up in his own garden," explained Treadway. "It was
just after it had been noised abroad that he had disinherited Jack.
Poor Jack was bemoaning his luck and his debts in prison, and they say
that Lord Grimsby spent all his time pacing the walks of his garden
cursing Jack and those selfsame debts. That is to say, that is what he
did before the episode of the highwayman. Then the man--or devil,
whatever he is--appeared quite close behind Lord Grimsby, gagged him
and blindfolded him, and would not release him until he had signed a
promise to reinstate Jack, pay all his debts and present him with
money enough to live like a prince of the blood for a year. Hard as it
is to believe, old Grimsby signed it, and afterward he was afraid to
go back on his signature, for fear--why, simply for fear that the
devil would come for him if he did. Jack, of course, is all for
worshiping the devil now, and swears if this gentlemanly highwayman
proves to be human, and ever comes near the gallows, he'll save him or
become highwayman himself. So, in reality, old Grimsby will have to
use his power to save this thief, if ever he's caught, to keep his own
son and heir off the road."

"And Lord Grimsby's power is absolute, is it not?" asked Ashley.

"As absolute as his majesty's command," agreed Treadway.

"Has it not been whispered in certain circles that this highwayman is
some well-known London gallant, merely amusing himself with the
excitement and danger of the game of the road?" asked Lindley.

"Somewhat too dangerous an amusement, in spite of its profits,"
sneered Ashley.

"Ah, but that's the most curious part of it!" cried Treadway. "The
fellow never keeps anything that he takes. There are some two-score
robberies laid to his account, and in each and every case some poor
fellow down on his luck for want of funds