“Have you moved Jacob Gray?” he said, in a calm voice.
“Nay,” replied Gray, “why need you ask?”
“A message from the Old Smithy,” announced a servant at this juncture.
“’Tis Britton,” whispered Learmont to Gray.
“What, cunning Master Britton!” answered Gray. “Ho! Ho! I shall be glad to see him.”
“Admit him,” said Learmont to the servant; then turning to Gray, he added,—
“Will you leave me, now?”
“No,” said Gray.
“Wherefore?”
“Because I do not want the smith again upon my track, like a blood hound!”