found to be obstinate and dangerous, so we desisted.  We had no certainty that Monsieur Caratal would take a special, but we thought it very probable, for it was of the utmost importance to him that he should reach Paris without delay.  It was for this contingency, therefore, that we made special preparations—­ preparations which were complete down to the last detail long before his steamer had sighted the shores of England.  You will be amused to learn that there was one of my agents in the pilot-boat which brought that steamer to its moorings.

“The moment that Caratal arrived in Liverpool we knew that he suspected danger and was on his guard.  He had brought with him as an escort a dangerous fellow, named Gomez, a man who carried weapons, and was prepared to use them.  This fellow carried Caratal’s confidential papers for him, and was ready to protect either them or his master.  The probability was that Caratal had taken him into his counsel, and that to remove Caratal without removing Gomez would be a mere waste of energy.  It was necessary that they should be involved in a common fate, and our plans to that end were much facilitated by their request for a special train.  On that special train you will understand that two out of the three servants of the company were really in our employ, at a price which would make them independent for a lifetime.  I do not go so far as to say that the English are more honest than any other nation, but I have found them more expensive to buy.

“I have already spoken of my English agent—­who is a man with a considerable future before him, unless some complaint of the throat carries him off before his time.  He had charge of all arrangements at Liverpool, whilst I was stationed at the inn at Kenyon, where I awaited a cipher signal to act.  When the special was arranged for, my agent instantly telegraphed to me and warned me how soon I should have everything ready.  He himself under the name of Horace Moore applied immediately for a special also, in the hope that he would be sent down with Monsieur Caratal, which might under certain circumstances have been helpful to us.  If, for example, our great coup had failed, it would then have become the duty of my agent to have shot them both and destroyed their papers.  Caratal was on his guard, however, and refused to admit any other traveller.  My agent then left the station, returned by another entrance, entered the guard’s van on the side farthest from the platform, and travelled down with McPherson the guard.

“In the meantime you will be interested to know what my movements were.  Everything had been prepared for days before, and only the finishing touches were needed.  The side line which we had chosen had once joined the main line, but it had been disconnected.  We had only to replace a few rails to connect it once more.  These rails had been laid down as far as could be done without danger of attracting attention, and now it was merely a case of completing