"Come, come," said Murray, "we shall not quarrel about the terms."
"We oughnt't to," returned the tiger, "for it's worth a Jew's eye."
Murray tore the letter open and read it down eagerly.
As it throws some additional light upon the actual state of affairs with the Harkaway party, possibly it may be as well to give the letter of young Jack to the consul verbatim.
It was dated from the prison.
"Sir,—I wish to solicit your immediate assistance in getting released from the above uncomfortable premises, where, in company with a party of friends and fellow-travellers, I have been by a singular accident carried by the police. From scraps of information I have gained while here, I believe I am correct in asserting that we have fallen into a trap, cunningly prepared for us by an unscrupulous fellow-countryman of ours, who has cogent reasons for wishing us out of the way, and has accordingly caused me and my friends to be arrested as coiners. The person in question is named Herbert Murray, but I am unable to say under what alias he is at present known in this part of the world. I mention this that you may be able to keep an eye upon the individual pending our release on bail, for I presume that bail is a French institution. My signature will serve you for reference on me, as it may readily be identified at my father's bankers here, Messrs. B. Fould & Co.
"Your obedient servant,
"Jack Harkaway."
Herbert Murray pursed his brows as he read on.
"What do you think of that?" demanded Chivey.