What would have been the result of this demonstration, if the door had not opened at the moment, we cannot say, but all eyes were turned upon the individual who now made his appearance. This was a man of youthful appearance, some thirty-five years of age, rather tall and well made, with red whiskers and moustaches and a very good set of teeth. He was a little pock-marked though not enough to injure his chance with the ladies, and his manner was both brisk and ostentatious. He was dressed in the extreme of fashion, with a profusion of rings on his fingers, and his entrance filled the dingy apartment with the scent of musk.—Taking out a blue silk handkerchief with which he made as if he would have wiped his face, and which he then flourished about the room a moment, he thrust out a leg as if to exhibit a boot of patent leather, and planting his heel jauntily on the floor, he put the question—
‘Well, boys, has Monteagle called here for me, to-night?’
Without waiting for an answer he clapped his hands familiarly on the shoulder of Charley, saying—‘How about that prisoner of yours? all safe, eh?’
‘Montgomery, do you mean?’ asked Charley in his deep base voice.
‘Ah! that was his name I believe. He’ll be triced up, I take it—scragged, as the Botany boys call it. Ha! ha! ha!’
‘You must have heard that he has escaped, Mr. Blodget?’
‘Escaped! Ah!’ cried Blodget, with a start of real or pretended surprise—‘the devil! Got loose, eh? No man is safe while such fellows are abroad,’ and he placed his hand on the guard of his gold watch—‘but how did it happen, Charley? Come, boy, how did he get away, the villian?’
‘If you haven’t heard,’ returned Charley, looking circumspectly at his interrogator, ‘I’ll enlighten you on that subject.’
‘Do, do, I’m all impatience.’
‘So I per-ceive,’ announced the Engineer. ‘You must know that Montgomery, the thief, was placed in the room of the Vigilance Committee, and Peter was set over him as a guard: that is, the door was locked and Peter was on the outside.’