"I'm inclined to slip a knife into the young devil as he lies there," he said. "Saw me, did he? Let me stir him up a bit——"
"Jabez, for God's sake don't. You must run no risks. A word now from anyone casting suspicion upon you and the other affair will all come out."
"He knows nothing of the other affair," retorted Jabez, inclined to argument.
"How can you be so mad. What does that matter when the police know? So does Farren; he's been watching you, do you know that?"
"Farren, Farren?—who the deuce is Farren? Some detective bloke, eh?"
"Farren is a spy," replied Miriam bitterly. "He was the man employed by Mr. Barton. He discovered your name, and that I was your sister. He knows everything about you, everything, Jabez. That was how Mr. Barton had such power over me. I was forced to obey him for your sake."
"Well, that wasn't very hard work I reckon," replied the man with an impatient scowl. "So this Farren chap's been watching me, has he? How did you know that?"
"Mrs. Parsley saw him following you after you left me at the flat the other day."
"What!" exclaimed Jabez—"a tall dark chap, wearing a cloak and a soft hat—nasty-looking devil?"
"Yes; that's the man. You know him?"