hooted　over　the　old　chimneys；　the　cart　had　already　drawn　up　at　the
  front…door　steps；　and　the　driver　was　already　in　earnest　discourse
  with　Mr。　Burchell　Fenn。　　He　was　standing　with　his　hands　behind　his
  back　…　a　man　of　a　gross；　misbegotten　face　and　body；　dewlapped　like
  a　bull　and　red　as　a　harvest　moon；　and　in　his　jockey　cap；　blue　coat
  and　top　boots；　he　had　much　the　air　of　a　good；　solid　tenant…farmer。
  The　pair　continued　to　speak　as　I　came　up　the　approach；　but　received
  me　at　last　in　a　sort　of　goggling　silence。　　I　had　my　hat　in　my　hand。
  'I　have　the　pleasure　of　addressing　Mr。　Burchell　Fenn？'　said　I。
  'The　same；　sir；'　replied　Mr。　Fenn；　taking　off　his　jockey　cap　in
  answer　to　my　civility；　but　with　the　distant　look　and　the　tardy
  movements　of　one　who　continues　to　think　of　something　else。　　'And
  who　may　you　be？'　he　asked。
  'I　shall　tell　you　afterwards；'　said　I。　　'Suffice　it；　in　the
  meantime；　that　I　come　on　business。'
  He　seemed　to　digest　my　answer　laboriously；　his　mouth　gaping；　his
  little　eyes　never　straying　from　my　face。
  'Suffer　me　to　point　out　to　you；　sir；'　I　resumed；　'that　this　is　a
  devil　of　a　wet　morning；　and　that　the　chimney　corner；　and　possibly　a
  glass　of　something　hot；　are　clearly　indicated。'
  Indeed；　the　rain　was　now　grown　to　be　a　deluge；　the　gutters　of　the
  house　roared；　the　air　was　filled　with　the　continuous；　strident
  crash。　　The　stolidity　of　his　face；　on　which　the　rain　streamed；　was
  far　from　reassuring　me。　　On　the　contrary；　I　was　aware　of　a　distinct
  qualm　of　apprehension；　which　was　not　at　all　lessened　by　a　view　of
  the　driver；　craning　from　his　perch　to　observe　us　with　the
  expression　of　a　fascinated　bird。　　So　we　stood　silent；　when　the
  prisoner　again　began　to　sneeze　from　the　body　of　the　cart；　and　at
  the　sound；　prompt　as　a　transformation；　the　driver　had　whipped　up
  his　horses　and　was　shambling　off　round　the　corner　of　the　house；　and
  Mr。　Fenn；　recovering　his　wits　with　a　gulp；　had　turned　to　the　door
  behind　him。
  'Come　in；　come　in；　sir；'　he　said。　　'I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　the
  lock　goes　a　trifle　hard。'
  Indeed；　it　took　him　a　surprising　time　to　open　the　door；　which　was
  not　only　locked　on　the　outside；　but　the　lock　seemed　rebellious　from
  disuse；　and　when　at　last　he　stood　back　and　motioned　me　to　enter
  before　him；　I　was　greeted　on　the　threshold　by　that　peculiar　and
  convincing　sound　of　the　rain　echoing　over　empty　chambers。　　The
  entrance…hall；　in　which　I　now　found　myself；　was　of　a　good　size　and
  good　proportions；　potted　plants　occupied　the　corners；　the　paved
  floor　was　soiled　with　muddy　footprints　and　encumbered　with　straw；
  on　a　mahogany　hall…table；　which　was　the　only　furniture；　a　candle
  had　been　stuck　and　suffered　to　burn　down　…　plainly　a　long　while
  ago；　for　the　gutterings　were　green　with　mould。　　My　mind；　under
  these　new　impressions；　worked　with　unusual　vivacity。　　I　was　here
  shut　off　with　Fenn　and　his　hireling　in　a　deserted　house；　a
  neglected　garden；　and　a　wood　of　evergreens：　the　most　eligible
  theatre　for　a　deed　of　darkness。　　There　came　to　me　a　vision　of　two
  flagstones　raised　in　the　hall…floor；　and　the　driver　putting　in　the
  rainy　afternoon　over　my　grave；　and　the　prospect　displeased　me
  extremely。　　I　felt　I　had　carried　my　pleasantry　as　far　as　was　safe；
  I　must　lose　no　time　in　declaring　my　true　character；　and　I　was　even
  choosing　the　words　in　which　I　was　to　begin；　when　the　hall…door　was
  slammed…to　behind　me　with　a　bang；　and　I　turned；　dropping　my　stick
  as　I　did　so；　in　time　…　and　not　any　more　than　time　…　to　save　my
  life。
  The　surprise　of　the　onslaught　and　the　huge　weight　of　my　assailant
  gave　him　the　advantage。　　He　had　a　pistol　in　his　right　hand　of　a
  portentous　size；　which　it　took　me　all　my　strength　to　keep
  deflected。　　With　his　left　arm　he　strained　me　to　his　bosom；　so　that
  I　thought　I　must　be　crushed　or　stifled。　　His　mouth　was　open；　his
  face　crimson；　and　he　panted　aloud　with　hard　animal　sounds。　　The
  affair　was　as　brief　as　it　was　hot　and　sudden。　　The　potations　which
  had　swelled　and　bloated　his　carcase　had　already　weakened　the
  springs　of　energy。　　One　more　huge　effort；　that　came　near　to
  overpower　me；　and　in　which　the　pistol　happily　exploded；　and　I　felt
  his　grasp　slacken　and　weakness　come　on　his　joints；　his　legs
  succumbed　under　his　weight；　and　he　grovelled　on　his　knees　on　the
  stone　floor。　　'Spare　me！'　he　gasped。
  I　had　not　only　been　abominably　frightened；　I　was　shocked　besides：
  my　delicacy　was　in　arms；　like　a　lady　to　whom　violence　should　have
  been　offered　by　a　similar　monster。　　I　plucked　myself　from　his
  horrid　contact；　I　snatched　the　pistol　…　even　discharged；　it　was　a
  formidable　weapon　…　and　menaced　him　with　the　butt。　　'Spare　you！'　I
  cried；　'you　beast！'
  His　voice　died　in　his　fat　inwards；　but　his　lips　still　vehemently
  framed　the　same　words　of　supplication。　　My　anger　began　to　pass　off；
  but　not　all　my　repugnance；　the　picture　he　made　revolted　me；　and　I
  was　impatient　to　be　spared　the　further　view　of　it。
  'Here；'　said　I；　'stop　this　performance：　it　sickens　me。　　I　am　not
  going　to　kill　you；　do　you　hear？　　I　have　need　of　you。'
  A　look　of　relief；　that　I　could　almost　have　called　beautiful；　dawned
  on　his　countenance。　　'Anything　…　anything　you　wish；'　said　he。
  Anything　is　a　big　word；　and　his　use　of　it　brought　me　for　a　moment
  to　a　stand。　　'Why；　what　do　you　mean？'　I　asked。　　'Do　you　mean　that
  you　will　blow　the　gaff　on　the　whole　business？'
  He　answered　me　Yes　with　eager　asseverations。
  'I　know　Monsieur　de　Saint…Yves　is　in　it；　it　was　through　his　papers
  we　traced　you；'　I　said。　　'Do　you　consent　to　make　a　clean　breast　of
  the　others？'
  'I　do　…　I　will！'　he　cried。　　'The　'ole　crew　of　'em；　there's　good
  names　among　'em。　　I'll　be　king's　evidence。'
  'So　that　all　shall　hang　except　yourself？　　You　damned　villain！'　I
  broke　out。　　'Understand　at　once　that　I　am　no　spy　or　thief…taker。　　I
  am　a　kinsman　of　Monsieur　de　St。　Yves　…　here　in　his　interest。　　Upon
  my　word；　you　have　put　your　foot　in　it　prettily；　Mr。　Burchell　Fenn！
  Come；　stand　up；　don't　grovel　there。　　Stand　up；　you　lump　of
  iniquity！'
  He　scrambled　to　his　feet。　　He　was　utterly　unmanned；　or　it　might
  have　gone　hard　with　me　yet；　and　I　considered　him　hesitating；　as；
  indeed；　there　was　cause。　　The　man　was　a　double…dyed　traitor：　he　had
  tried　to　murder　me；　and　I　had　first　baffled　his　endeavours　and　then
  exposed　and　insulted　him。　　Was　it　wise　to　place　myself　any　longer
  at　his　mercy？　　With　his　help　I　should　doubtless　travel　more
  quickly；　doubtless　also　far　less　agreeably；　and　there　was
  everything　to　show　that　it　would　be　at　a　greater　risk。　　In　short；　I
  should　have　washed　my　hands　of　him　on　the　spot；　but　for　the
  temptation　of　the　French　officers；　whom　I　knew　to　be　so　near；　and
  for　whose　society　I　felt　so　great　and　natural　an　impatience。　　If　I
  was　to　see　anything　of　my　countrymen；　it　was　clear　I　had　first　of
  all　to　make　my　peace　with　Mr。　Fenn；　and　that　was　no　easy　matter。
  To　make　friends　with　any　one　implies　concessions　on　both　sides；　and
  what　could　I　concede？　　What　could　I　say　of　him；　but　that　he　had
  proved　himself　a　villain　and　a　fool；　and　the　worse　man？
  'Well；'　said　I；　'here　has　been　rather　a　poor　piece　of　business；
  which　I　dare　say　you　can　have　no　pleasure　in　calling　to　mind；　and；
  to　say　truth；　I　would　as　readily　forget　it　myself。　　Suppose　we　try。
  Take　back　your　pistol；　which　smells　very　ill；　put　it　in　your　pocket
  or　wherever　you　had　it　concealed。　　There！　　Now　let　us　meet　for　the
  first　time。　…　Give　you　good　morning；　Mr。　Fenn！　　I　hope　you　do　very
  well。　　I　come　on　the　recommendation　of　my　kinsman；　the　Vicomte　de
  St。　Yves。'
  'Do　you　mean　it？'　he　cried。　　'Do　you　mean　you　will　pass　over　our
  little　scrimmage？'
  'Why；　certainly！'　said　I。　　'It　shows　you　are　a　bold　fellow；　who　may
  be　trusted　to　forget　the　business　when　it　comes　to　the　point。
  There　is　nothing　against　you　in　the　little　scrimmage；　unless　that
  your　courage　is　greater　than　your　strength。　　You　are　not　so　young
  as　you　once　were；　that　is　all。'
  'And　I　beg　of　you；　sir；　don't　betray　me　to　the　Vis…count；'　he
  pleaded。　　'I'll　not　deny　but　what　my　'eart　failed　me　a　trifle；　but
  it　was　only　a　word；　sir；　what　anybody　might　have　said　in　the　'eat
  of　the　moment；　and　over　with　it。'
  'Certainly；'　said　I。　　'That　is　quite　my　own　opinion。'
  'The　way　I　came　to　be　anxious　about　the　Vis…count；'　he　continued；
  'is　that　I　believe　he　might　be　induced　to　form　an　'asty　judgment。
  And　the　business；　in　a　pecuniary　point　of　view；　is　all　that　I　could
  ask；　only　trying；　sir　…　very　trying。　　It's　making　an　old　man　of　me
  before　my　time。　　You　might　have　observed　yourself；　sir；　that　I
  'aven't　got　the　knees　I　once　'ad。　　The　knees　and　the　breathing；
  there's　where　it　takes　me。　　But　I'm　very　sure；　sir；　I　address　a
  gentleman　as　would　be　the　last　to　make　trouble　between　friends。'
  'I　am　sure　you　do　me　no　more　than　justice；'　said　I；