"Yes; that would be indispensible," said the baron, whose eyes were sweeping the room from corner to corner, fiercely and swiftly. "Without me you can never lift the veil; without me you can never unearth your stiff and pale Yelland Mace, nor without me identify and hang him." "I rely upon your aid, Baron," said Mr. Arden, who was becoming agitated. "Your trouble shall be recompensed; you may depend upon my honour." "I am running a certain risk. I am not a fool, though, like little Lebas. I am not to be made away with like a kitten; and once I move in this matter, I burn my ships behind me, and return to my splendid practice, under no circumstances, ever again." The baron's pallid face looked more bloodless, his accent was fiercer, and his countenance more ruffianly as he uttered all this. "I understood, Baron, that you had quite made up your mind to retire within a very few weeks," said David Arden. "Does any man who has lived as long as you or I quite trust his own resolution? No one likes to be nailed to a plan of action an hour before he need be. I find my practice more lucrative every day. I may be tempted to postpone my retirement, and for a while longer to continue to gather the golden harvest that ripens round me. But once I take this step, all is up with that. You see--you understand. Bah! you are no fool; it is plain, all I sacrifice." "Of course, Baron, you shall take no trouble, and make no sacrifice, without ample compensation. But are you aware of the nature of the crime committed by that man?" "I never trouble my head about details; it is enough, the man is a political refugee, and his object concealment." "But he was no political refugee; he had nothing to do with politics--he was simply a murderer and a robber." "What a little rogue! Will you excuse my smoking a pipe and drinking a little beer? Now, he never hinted that, although I knew him very intimately, for he was my patient for some months; never hinted it, he was so sly." "And Mr. Longcluse, was _he_ your patient also?" "Ha! to be sure he was. You won't drink some beer? No; well, in a moment." He drew a little jugful from the cask, and placed it, and a pewter goblet, on the table, and then filled, lighted, and smoked his pipe as he proceeded. "I will tell you something concerning those gentlemen, Mr. Longcluse and Mr. Mace, which may amuse you. Listen." CHAPTER LXXXI. BROKEN.