Grotait sent for both men, and went into a passion, and threatened to hang them both if they presumed to attack Little's person again in any way. “It is the place I mean to destroy,” said Grotait, “not the man.”
Cole conveyed this to Coventry, and it discouraged him mightily, and he told Cole he should give it up and go abroad.
But soon after this some pressure or other was brought to bear on Grotait, and Cole, knowing this, went to him, and asked him whether Bolt and Little were to be done or not.
“It is a painful subject,” said Grotait.
“It is a matter of life and death to us,” said Cole.
“That is true. But mind—the place, and not the man.” Cole assented, and then Grotait took him on to a certain bridge, and pointed out the one weak side of Bob and Little's fortress, and showed him how the engine-chimney could be got at and blown down, and so the works stopped entirely: “And I'll tell you something,” said he; “that chimney is built on a bad foundation, and was never very safe; so you have every chance.”
Then they chaffered about the price, and at last Grotait agreed to give him L20.
Cole went to Coventry, and told how far Grotait would allow him to go: “But,” said he, “L20 is not enough. I run an even chance of being hung or lagged.”
“Go a step beyond your instructions, and I'll give you a hundred pounds.”
“I daren't,” said Cole: “unless there was a chance to blow up the place with the man in it.” Then, after a moment's reflection, he said: “I hear he sleeps in the works. I must find out where.”