“So you think,” muttered Jack, between his ground teeth.

“To make your mind perfectly easy on the score of Mrs. Sheppard,” continued Jonathan; “after we’ve disposed of Thames Darrell, I’ll visit her in Bedlam; and, as I understand I form one of her chief terrors, I’ll give her such a fright that I’ll engage she shan’t long survive it.”

“Devil!” muttered Jack, again grasping his pistol.  But, feeling secure of vengeance, he determined to abide his time.

“And now, having got rid of the minor obstacles,” said Jonathan, “I’ll submit a plan for the removal of the main difficulty.  Thames Darrell, I’ve said, is at Mr. Wood’s at Dollis Hill, wholly unsuspicious of any designs against him, and, in fact, entirely ignorant of your being acquainted with his return, or even of his existence.  In this state, it will be easy to draw him into a snare.  To-morrow night—­or rather to-night, for we are fast verging on another day—­I propose to lure him out of the house by a stratagem which I am sure will prove infallible; and, then, what so easy as to knock him on the head.  To make sure work of it, I’ll superintend the job myself.  Before midnight, I’ll answer for it, it shall be done.  My janizaries shall go with me.  You hear what I say, Quilt?” he added, looking at Jack.

“I do,” replied Sheppard.

“Abraham Mendez will like the task,—­for he has entertained a hatred to the memory of Thames Darrell ever since he received the wound in the head, when the two lads attempted to break out of St. Giles’s round-house.  I’ve despatched him to the New Prison.  But I expect him back every minute.”

“The New Prison!” exclaimed Sheppard.  “What is he gone there for?”

“With a message to the turnkey to look after his prisoner,” replied Wild, with a cunning smile.  “Jack Sheppard had a visitor, I understand, yesterday, and may make an attempt to escape.  It’s as well to be on the safe side.”

“It is,” replied Jack.

At this moment, his quick ears detected the sound of footsteps on the stairs.  He drew both his pistols, and prepared for a desperate encounter.

“There is another mystery I would have solved,” said Trenchard, addressing Wild; “you have told me much, but not enough.”

“What do you require further?” asked Jonathan.

“The name and rank of Thames Darrell’s father,” said the knight.

“Another time,” replied the thief-taker, evasively.

“I will have it now,” rejoined Trenchard, “or our agreement is void.”

“You cannot help yourself, Sir Rowland,” replied Jonathan, contemptuously.

“Indeed!” replied the knight, drawing his sword, “the secret, villain, or I will force it from you.”

Before Wild could make any reply, the door was thrown violently open, and Abraham Mendez rushed into the room, with a face of the utmost consternation.

“He hash eshcaped!” cried the Jew.