"I had it all cut-and-dried. 'Is Mrs. Brown at home?' I should have said, in a voice Watts would never have known. 'Mrs. Brown don't live here,' old Watts would have answered; upon which I should have politely begged his pardon and walked off."
"All very fine, Tom, and you may think yourself amazingly clever; but as sure as you are living, you will run these risks once too often."
"Not I. Didn't I give old Leah a scare! You should have heard her shriek."
"Suppose it had been some enemy—some stickler for law and justice—that I had brought home with me to-night, instead of Lake?"
"But it wasn't," laughed Tom. "It was Lake himself. And I guess he is as safe as you are."
"Be sure of that," added Lake. "But what do you think of doing, Heriot? You cannot hide away for ever in the wilds of Blackfriars. I would not answer for your safety there for a day."
"Goodness knows!" said Tom. "Perhaps Charley could put me up here—in one of his top bedrooms?"
Whether he spoke in jest or earnest, I knew not. He might remember that I was running a risk in concealing him even for an hour or two. Were it discovered, the law might make me answer for it.
"I should like something to eat, Charley."
Leaving him with Lake, I summoned Leah, and bade her bring up quickly what she had. She speedily appeared with the tray.