“Thank you,” said Gray. “Is the coast clear now? Can I go?”
“Lor’ bless you, no!” replied the man who was named Bill. “You must not venture for an hour yet. There’s a watchman put at the end of this court to apprehend any strange gentlemen going out of it; but in the course of an hour we can dispose of him.”
“Indeed?” said Gray.
“Oh, yes. When Jim Binks comes home, he’ll go and be booked, as safe as a gun.”
“I don’t understand you.”
“Why, this is it,” continued Bill. “Jim Binks can make himself look so uncommon suspicious a character, that if he likes he is sure to be taken up, if there’s been any regular kick up about anything such as your murder.”
Gray started.
“Well, well,” continued the ruffian, “damme, it was well done, you needn’t now look as if you couldn’t help it.”
“I begin to understand you,” said Gray. “The person you name will allow himself to be taken for me?”
“Exactly. They know him well at the watch-house, and will let him go directly again, because it’s well known you are a stranger, as half a dozen officers can swear to.”