“You may taunt me with that word if you like, my good fellows,” said Rowton, looking down the room as he spoke. “Your taunts will not in the least affect me, or turn me from my set purpose. I am willing to go into danger for your cause, but into absolute and certain defeat I no longer venture. My wife is much more valuable to me than the opinions of the Silver Mob. Now, Piper, in bringing you the diamonds, I have, I think, executed my orders as fully as I can execute them. Here is the money for the black diamond. When I deliver over the packet which contains the diamonds in the rough, to Scrivener and Simpkins, I shall feel that I have earned a holiday. I am anxious to return to Rowton Heights early to-morrow morning. Have you anything further to say?”
“Yes, a good deal,” said Piper; “sit down again and don’t be so impatient. As to your conduct with regard to the bonds, I refuse to speak further about it on the present occasion. I must consult with Scrivener and one or two other members of the School, and shall probably summon you here any day within the next week or fortnight. In the meantime there are other matters to be talked over. We want fresh blood—the School won’t prosper without. What sort of a boy is that lad of yours?”
“What lad?” asked Rowton, raising his head, but a startled expression all the same crossing his face.
“You know the boy I mean—the son of the mad woman. Is he a plucky little chap?”
“I refuse to say anything about him—he has nothing to do with you nor you with him.”
“That’s as we may think best,” said Piper, with another sneer. “After all, I can get information apart from you. Scrivener, come here.”
Scrivener, who had re-seated himself near the fire between Simpkins and another man with a particularly evil cast of face, now stepped lightly across the room.
“Scrivener,” said Long John, “have you made good use of your time at Pitstow?”
“Excellent, Piper,” replied the man. “I have mapped out the entire district. I know every room in every house, the amount of——”