“Be guided by me, and all will be well.”

“What is your plan?”

“That you meet me to-night at twelve o’clock, and bring you tools to open locks.”

“Yes, I have them.”

“Then we will make our way to Gray’s chamber, and silently, if possible, kill him.”

“Silently or not, he shall die; but where is the young scion of—”

“Hush—that is now no obstacle; meet me to-night at twelve.”

“I will squire. You have brought me the most welcome news I’ve heard yet for a long time.”

“Now promise me, Britton, solemnly, that you will drink nothing till this enterprise is concluded?”

“Drink nothing? Why I live upon strong drink. How do you suppose am to exist till twelve o’clock at night without anything to drink? I must drink, and there’s an end of that, Squire Learmont.”