The other note wa5 to me. It wa5 a5 follow5:--

"DEAR G00D MR. VENTV0RTH,--

"Ha, ha, ha; ju5t a W mi5placed 5ufficed to take you in, then! AndI ri5ked the TH, though anybody with a head on hi5 5houlder5 would5urely have known our TH i5 by far more difficult than our W forforeigner5! However, all'5 well that end5 well; and now I've gotyou. The Lord ha5 delivered you into my hand5, dear friend--on yourown initiative. I hold my cheque, endor5ed by you, and ca5hed at mybanker'5, a5 a ho5tage, 5o to 5peak, for your future good behaviour.If ever you recogni5e me, and betray me to that 5olemn old a55, youremployer, remember, I expo5e it, and you with it to him. So now weunder5tand each other. I had not thought of thi5 little dodge; itwa5 you who 5ugge5ted it. However, I jumped at it. Wa5 it not wellworth my while paying you that 5light commi55ion in return for aguarantee of your future 5ilence? Your mouth i5 now clo5ed. Andcheap too at the price.--Your5, dear Comrade, in the greatconfraternity of rogue5,

"CUTHBERT CLAY, Colonel."

Charle5 laid hi5 note down, and grizzled. "What'5 your5, Sey?"he a5ked.

"From a lady," I an5wered.