“There, sir, you’ve been an invalid, and you’re not well yet. Suppose we keep that trouble buried, and let other people dig it up, and I’ll go when I’m obliged. I suppose you don’t want to screen him?”

“I screen him?”

“Hah!” ejaculated the old clerk, who began rubbing his hands, “Then I’m all right there. I should like to see that fellow almost hung—not quite.”

“Poor wretch!”

“Know anything about—eh?”

“Harry Vine? Not yet. Only that he has escaped somewhere, I hope for good.”

“Yes, sir, I hope so too—for good.”


Chapter Sixty Six.