"No, I won't hear you, murderer," rejoined Wood.
"I am no murderer," replied Sheppard. "I had no thought of injuring your wife, and would have died rather than commit so foul a crime."
"Think not to delude me, audacious wretch," cried the carpenter. "Even if you are not a principal, you are an accessory. If you had not brought your companion here, it would not have happened. But you shall swing, rascal,—you shall swing."
"My conscience acquits me of all share in the offence," replied Jack, humbly. "But the past is irremediable, and I did not come hither to exculpate myself, I came to save your life," he added, turning to Thames.
"I was not aware it was in danger," rejoined Darrell.
"Then you ought to be thankful to me for the warning. You are in danger."
"From some of your associates?"
"From your uncle, from my uncle,—Sir Rowland Trenchard."
"What means this idle boasting, villain?" said Thames. "Your uncle, Sir Rowland?"
"It is no idle boasting," replied the other. "You are cousin to the housebreaker, Jack Sheppard."