Gray agreed; and the two entered thereupon into a dark and deadly conspiracy, which had for its initial object the abasement of George Early.
The next step was to secure Parrott's support. This was soon done, and the three conspirators now endeavoured to find some means of putting their adversary hors de combat. It was, however, much easier to discover the necessity than the means for removing such an obstacle.
"He's too artful for us," said Gray. "He's the slyest devil I've ever come across."
"I could get him the sack," said Parrott, severely; "but I don't see that that would do any good."
"More likely harm," put in Gray, quickly. "He'd never pay me any rent, and he'd be sure to blackmail me for pocket-money."
"And come to me," added Busby, "when he wanted money for clothes. My missis thinks he's 'such a nice young man,' too."
"He wouldn't be above trying to get money out of me, either," said Parrott, cautiously.
"Above it? He'd do it with all the pleasure in the world."
"We can't kidnap him and lock him in a dungeon. He's one of those slippery brutes that would wriggle out of it, and be down on us worse than ever."
Nothing short of a swift and sudden death seemed possible to repress the terrible George; but all decided that, with the present unsympathetic attitude of the law towards this means of removing troublesome persons, nothing in that direction could be thought of. Gray suggested a pleasant little scheme for taking George Early on a holiday trip, and getting him to fall over a high cliff, but it didn't sound feasible to his co-conspirators. If he would only tumble down a well, or slip in front of a steam-roller, the problem might comfortably be solved. Any such plan would, of course, need his active co-operation, which it was felt he would be disinclined to give, even to secure the peace of mind of three such good fellows as Parrott, Gray, and Busby.