Then a curious feeling of rage filled him, and the blood rushed to his brain as he lay reproaching himself for his folly. He had been attracted by this woman, who was evidently thoroughly in league with the man who spoke to her in a way which sent a jealous shudder through him, while the sisters of whom he had once or twice caught a glimpse, seemed to be absent, unless--The thought which occurred to him seemed to be so wild that he drove it away, and lay waiting for what was to come next. "Be off, girls!" said the first man suddenly; and without a word, the two women present left the room, Adela not so much as casting a glance in the direction of the prisoner. The three men whispered together for a few moments, and then Mr Barclay made an effort to get up, but it was useless, for the first two seized him between them, all bound as he was, and dragged him out of the room, along the passage, and down the stone steps to the basement, where they thrust him into the wine-cellar, and half-dragged him across there into the inner cellar, the houses on that side being exactly the same in construction as ours. "Fetch a light," said one of them; and this was done, when the speaker bent down and dragged the handkerchief from the prisoner's mouth. "You scoundrel!" cried Mr Barclay. "Keep a civil tongue in your head, my fine fellow," he said. "You shall suffer for this," retorted Mr Barclay. "P'r'aps so. But now, listen. If you like to shout, you can do so, only I tell you the truth: no one can hear you when you're shut in here; and if you do keep on making a noise, one of us may be tempted to come and silence you." "What do you want?--Money?" "You to hold your tongue and be quiet. You behave yourself, and no harm shall come to you; but I warn you that if you attempt any games, look out, for you've desperate men to deal with. Now, then, will you take it coolly?" "Tell me first what this means," said Mr Barclay. "I shall tell you nothing. I only say this--will you take it coolly, and do what we want?" "I can't help myself," says Mr Barclay. "That's spoken like a sensible lad," says the second man.--"Now, look here: you've got to stop for some days, perhaps, and you shall have enough to eat, and blankets to keep you warm." "But stop here--in this empty cellar?" "That's it, till we let you go. If you behave yourself, you shan't be hurt. If you don't behave yourself, you may get an ugly crack on the head to silence you. Now, then, will you be quiet?" "I tell you again, that I cannot help myself." "Shall I undo his hands?" said one to the other. "Yes; you can loosen them." This was done, and directly after Mr Barclay sat thinking in the darkness, alone with as unpleasant thoughts as a man could have for company. STORY TWO, CHAPTER TEN. A PECULIAR POSITION.