"As thus," said Doubletongue. "Dost remember the night on which we consulted with Lawyer Quillet at the Blue Boar Inn?"
"Truly so," said Grasp, "and what o' that?"
"On that night I marked, although you did not, a couple of persons who kept themselves altogether apart from the other guests—a young and a middle-aged person. Nay, I especially marked the younger of the twain, and as I looked upon the tiny foot, the sparkling eyes, and the slender form, methinks I penetrated through the disguise worn, and beheld a female."
"Ah! caitiff," said Grasp, "thou were't ever a devil to spy out a farthingale. And so—"
"And so, I said to myself, where disguise is there mischief is meant, and I resolved to know more. Acting upon this resolve, albeit I lost sight of them during the riot which ensued in the tavern, I followed them out into the street, dodged them to their lair—"
"And that is—?" inquired Deville impatiently.
"In the Blackfriars, at a house down by the water-side, and which I can point out."
"But thou may'st have been mistaken," said Grasp, "appearances may have deceived thee."
"Not a whit," said Doubletongue. "I took some pains to make assurance; for, sooth to say, I was taken with this mysterious female. I watched about the house till I again saw her. I even ventured within, concealed myself during the absence of herself and him who seemed her protector, and I found in the room which she inhabited—"
"What?" said Grasp, who expected a written list of the conspirators. "In God's name what did you find?"