"Enough!" cried Jonathan, eagerly pocketing the memorandum. "And now, in return for your liberality, I'll inform you of a secret with which it is important you should be acquainted."
"A secret!" exclaimed Trenchard. "Concerning whom?"
"Mrs. Sheppard," replied Jonathan, mysteriously.
"Mrs. Sheppard!" echoed Jack, surprised out of his caution.
"Ah!" exclaimed Wild, looking angrily towards his supposed attendant.
"I beg pardon, Sir," replied Jack, with the accent and manner of the janizary; "I was betrayed into the exclamation by my surprise that anything in which Sir Rowland Trenchard was interested could have reference to so humble a person as Mrs. Sheppard."
"Be pleased, then, in future not to let your surprise find vent in words," rejoined Jonathan, sternly. "My servants, like Eastern mutes, must have eyes, and ears,—and hands, if need be,—but no tongues. You understand me, sirrah?"
"Perfectly," replied Jack. "I'm dumb."
"Your secret?" demanded Trenchard, impatiently.
"I need not remind you, Sir Rowland," replied Wild, "that you had two sisters—Aliva and Constance."