"Why, Jack," said the doctor, "I did intend watching here; but now the game is disturbed, it is of no use remaining here. We have secured the picture, and now there will be no need of remaining in the house; in fact, there is no fear of robbery now."
"Not so long as we are here," said Jack Pringle; "the smugglers won't show a head while the revenue cutter is on the look out."
"Certainly not, Jack," said Mr. Chillingworth; "I think we have scared them away—the picture is safe."
"Yes—so long as we are here."
"And longer, too, I hope."
Jack shook his head, as much as to intimate that he had many doubts upon such a point, and couldn't be hurried into any concession of opinion of the safety of such a picture as that—much as he disliked it, and as poor an opinion as he had of it.
"Don't you think it will be safe?"
"No," said Jack.
"And why not?" said Mr. Chillingworth, willing to hear what Jack could advance against the opinion he had expressed, especially as he had disturbed the marauder in the very act of robbery.
"Why, you'll be watched by this very man; and when you are gone, he will return in safety, and take this plaguey picture away with him."