“I am acquainted with Mr. Purney's hand-writing,” said Jack, advancing, “and can at once decide whether this is a forgery or not.” “Look at it, then,” said Wild, giving him the portfolio. “It's the ordinary's signature, undoubtedly,” replied Jack. And as he gave back the portfolio to Sir Rowland he contrived, unobserved, to slip the precious document into his sleeve, and from thence into his pocket. “And, does any of our bright blood flow in the veins of a ruffianly housebreaker?” cried Trenchard, with a look of bewilderment. “I'll not believe it.” “Others may, if you won't,” muttered Jack, retiring. “Thank Heaven! I'm not basely born.” “Now, mark me,” said Jonathan, “and you'll find I don't do things by halves. By your father, Sir Montacute Trenchard's will, you are aware,--and, therefore, I need not repeat it, except for the special purpose I have in view,--you are aware, I say, that, by this will, in case your sister Aliva, died without issue, or, on the death of such issue, the property reverts to Constance and _her_ issue.” “I hear,” said Sir Rowland, moodily. “And I,” muttered Jack. “Thames Darrell once destroyed,” pursued Jonathan. “Constance--or, rather, Mrs. Sheppard--becomes entitled to the estates; which eventually--provided he escaped the gallows--would descend to her son.” “Ha!” exclaimed Jack, drawing in his breath, and leaning forward with intense curiosity. “Well, Sir?” gasped Sir Rowland. “But this need give you no uneasiness,” pursued Jonathan; “Mrs. Sheppard, as I told you, is in Bedlam, an incurable maniac; while her son is in the New Prison, whence he will only be removed to Newgate and Tyburn.” “So you think,” muttered Jack, between his ground teeth. “To make your mind perfectly easy on the score of Mrs. Sheppard,” continued Jonathan; “after we've disposed of Thames Darrell, I'll visit her in Bedlam; and, as I understand I form one of her chief terrors, I'll give her such a fright that I'll engage she shan't long survive it.” “Devil!” muttered Jack, again grasping his pistol. But, feeling secure of vengeance, he determined to abide his time. “And now, having got rid of the minor obstacles,” said Jonathan, “I'll submit a plan for the removal of the main difficulty. Thames Darrell, I've said, is at Mr. Wood's at Dollis Hill, wholly unsuspicious of any designs against him, and, in fact, entirely ignorant of your being acquainted with his return, or even of his existence. In this state, it will be easy to draw him into a snare. To-morrow night--or rather to-night, for we are fast verging on another day--I propose to lure him out of the house by a stratagem which I am sure will prove infallible; and, then, what so easy as to knock him on the head. To make sure work of it, I'll superintend the job myself. Before midnight, I'll answer for it, it shall be done. My janizaries shall go with me. You hear what I say, Quilt?” he added, looking at Jack. “I do,” replied Sheppard.