"I'll do the best that I can myself," replied Bet. She was not the least angry or excited. She sat down by Hester's table, and taking up the pen dipped it in the ink, and with difficulty began to put her words on paper. Her head was bent low, and her hand labored; but she did not pause, nor glance again at Hester. Minutes passed into half-hours: one--two--three of these went by before Bet, with a burning flush on one cheek, and the other deadly white, finished her letter. "There," she said. "You don't understand me, Hetty, but I ha' made it all clear to Will. Here's the letter. Seal it up for nought but him to see. When he's free to-morrow, give it to him, Hetty, and don't think harder than you can help of poor Bet Granger." She laid the letter on the mantel-piece by Hester's side, wrapped her shawl again about her head, and went out. CHAPTER XXII. "You ha' got the promise of the girl?" said Dent. "Yes, yes--that's sure and certain." "All right; then I'll go to the police-court. Now look you here, Granger--you don't s'pose as I'm _really_ going to give that chap his liberty?" "You won't wed Bet else," replied Granger. "So _you_ say. Well, set down, man. We has half-an-hour afore us, and I've got to think one or two things out. Are you quite aware, or must I make it plainer to yer, the only way in which I could let Will out?" "It don't seem over clear, for sartin," replied Granger. "But you're a clever chap, Dent, and I trusts yer. You'll let the lad out, and you'll wed my gel, and you'll give me my share of the siller. Come, now--that's plain enough, ain't it?" "_This_ is plain," said Dent, knocking the ashes out of his pipe-the two men were loafing together near one of the quays--"this is plain, and this only--that when Will comes out of prison I goes in. I can't prove Will Scarlett innocent without proving myself t'other thing. Is it likely now--you tell me as it's likely--ef I'll lend myself to that sort of plan?" "Only you said it," replied Granger. "And for sartin my gel won't wed you else." "And," continued Dent, "when I'm locked up, it won't look too nice for you. There are a few things as 'ull come out about that money as I stole. Ef I'm took up, Liverpool 'ull be a sight too hot for you, Granger. You take my word on that point." Granger's bloated and red face turned pale. He did not speak at all for a moment. Then he said, slowly: "You has a plan in your head, Isaac Dent; and the sooner you outs with it the better it'll be for you and for me." "Yes," said Dent, smiling. "You're about right there, mate. I has a plan, and this is it--I mean to go to the police-court to-day--I means to witness there; but not for Will Scarlett, but _agin_' him. He'll swear as I give him the notes; I'll swear tother way. His case looks black now--I'll make it of a double-dyed darkness. I'll do for him. That'll be none so difficult."