“You'd better surrender quietly, Jack,” he cried; “you've no chance.”' Instead of regarding him, Jack glanced over the iron bannisters, and measured the distance. But the fall was too great, and he abandoned the attempt. “We have him!” cried Jonathan, hurrying down the steps. “He can't escape.” As this was said, Jack turned with the swiftness of thought, and shortening his sword, prepared to plunge it into the thief-taker's heart. Before he could make the thrust, however, he was seized behind by Ireton, who flung himself upon him. “Caught!” shouted the head-turnkey. “I give you joy of the capture, Mr. Wild,” he added, as Jonathan came up, and assisted him to secure and disarm the prisoner. “I was coming to give you intelligence of a comical trick played by this rascal, when I find him here--the last place, I own, where I should have expected to find him.” “You've arrived in the very nick of time,” rejoined Jonathan; “and I'll take care your services are not overlooked.” “Mr. Ireton,” cried Jack, in accents of the most urgent entreaty, “before you take me hence, I implore you--if you would further the ends of justice--search this house. One of the most barbarous murders ever committed has just been perpetrated by the monster Wild. You will find proofs of the bloody deed in his room. But go thither at once, I beseech you, before he has time to remove them.” “Mr. Ireton is welcome to search every room in my house if he pleases,” said Jonathan, in a tone of bravado. “As soon as we've conveyed you to Newgate, I'll accompany him.” “Mr. Ireton will do no such thing,” replied the head-turnkey. “Bless your soul! d'ye think I'm to be gammoned by such nonsense. Not I. I'm not quite such a greenhorn as Shotbolt, Jack, whatever you may think.” “For mercy's sake go up stairs,” implored Sheppard. “I have not told you half. There's a man dying--Captain Darrell. Take me with you. Place a pistol at my ear, and shoot me, if I've told you false.” “And, what good would that do?” replied Ireton, sarcastically. “To shoot you would be to lose the reward. You act your part capitally, but it won't do.” “Won't you go?” cried Jack passionately. “Mr. Langley, I appeal to you. Murder, I say, has been done! Another murder will be committed if you don't prevent it. The blood will rest on your head. Do you hear me, Sir? Won't you stir!” “Not a step,” replied Langley, gruffly. “Off with him to Newgate!” cried Jonathan. “Ireton, as you captured him, the reward is yours. But I request that a third may be given to Langley.” “It shall be, Sir,” replied Ireton, bowing. “Now come along, Jack.” “Miscreants!” cried Sheppard, almost driven frantic by the violence of his emotions; “you're all in league with him.” “Away with him!” cried Jonathan. “I'll see him fettered myself. Remain at the door, Nab,” he added, loitering for a moment behind the others, “and let no one in, or out.”