“Share and share alike, and it’s a bargain,” said Mr. Fibbes, dashing his great hand heavily down on the table. “D----n me, Tom, you’re a deep ’un; you put me in front in that last job, and so help me I didn’t clear five pounds. I’ll have none of these games this turn, and if I _have_ to whip out the ‘bread-winner,’ I’ll be allowed something handsome over and above, see if I won’t.” “Of course, Mr. Fibbes,” replied Tom, “honour amongst gentlemen. You understand the plan now, I think, or would you like me to go over it once more?” “Bother the plan,” remarked Mr. Fibbes, who was a man of action rather than a man of science; “let’s have another quartern and be off--why, it’s getting dark now.” “Easy,” said Tom, “we’ll just call at my place for the instruments, and so walk on to the station. It’s a nice fresh night for a jaunt into the country; but what a thing it is when gentlemen can combine business with pleasure!” Mr. Fibbes grunted a hoarse laugh of approbation, and, having finished their gin, these two worthy members of society walked off, arm-in-arm, on their nefarious expedition. It is needless to say that Newton-Hollows was the house for which they were bound. General Bounce and his unconscious family, resting peacefully and securely as usual, were to be robbed, and, if any resistance arose, were to be murdered before daylight, and this because Tom Blacke, being, as he said, connected with them by marriage, and having received many acts of kindness from the warm-hearted old General, had obtained a sufficient knowledge of the inside of his dwelling and the habits of his household to make a descent upon his property with every prospect of success. After a vehement discussion with Mr. Fibbes, who was extremely anxious to travel first class, and whose aristocratic prejudices were so shocked when he found his confederate would by no means consent to this imprudent arrangement, that he nearly threw up the job altogether, the worthy couple stowed themselves away in a roomy compartment of the second class, and were soon steaming along from the lights of London, into the dark, broken masses of the cool, fresh country.