Sheppard said nothing, but a disdainful smile curled his lips. Austin departed, and presently afterwards returned with the two subordinate officers, each of whom wore a leathern apron round his waist, and carried a large hammer. As soon as the manacles were slipped over the prisoner's wrists, and the new padlock secured to the staple, they withdrew. “Leave me alone with him a moment,” said Jonathan. And the jailers also retired. “Jack,” said Wild, with a glance of malignant triumph, “I will now tell you what I have done. All my plans have succeeded. Before a month has elapsed, your mother will be mine. The Trenchard estates will likewise be mine, for Sir Rowland is no more, and the youth, Thames, will never again see daylight. Blueskin, who had evaded me with the papers and the money, is a prisoner here, and will perish on the same gallows as yourself. My vengeance is completely gratified.” Without waiting for a reply, but darting a malevolent look at the prisoner, he quitted the cell, the door of which was instantly double-locked and bolted. “I've not quite done yet,” said Jonathan, as he joined the turnkeys. “I should like to see whether Blueskin is a little more composed. I've a question to ask him. Give me the keys and the light. I'll go alone.” So saying, he descended a short spiral staircase, and, entering a long stone gallery, from which several other passages branched, took one of them, and after various turnings--for he was familiar with all the intricacies of the prison--arrived at the cell of which he was in search. Selecting a key from the heavy bunch committed to him by Austin, he threw open the door, and beheld Blueskin seated at the back of the small chamber, handcuffed, and with his feet confined in a heavy pair of stocks. He was asleep when Jonathan entered, and growled at being disturbed. But, as soon as he perceived who it was, he roused himself, and glared fiercely at the intruder from under his bent brows. “What do you want?” he asked, in a gruff voice. “I want to know what you've done with the rest of the notes--with the gold--and the papers you took away from my room!” rejoined Wild. “Then you'll never know more than this,” retorted Blueskin, with a grin of satisfaction;--“they're in a place of safety, where _you_'ll never find 'em, but where somebody else _will_, and that before long.” “Hear me, Blueskin,” said Jonathan, restraining his choler. “If you'll tell me where to look for these things, and I _do_ find them, I'll set you free. And you shall have a share of the gold for yourself.” “I'll tell you what I'll do,” rejoined the other. “Set Captain Sheppard free, and when I hear he's safe,--not before,--I'll put the money and papers into your possession, and some other matters, too, that you know nothing about.” “Impracticable dolt!” exclaimed Jonathan, furiously. “Do you think I'd part with the sweetest morsel of revenge on those terms? No! But I'll have the secret out of you by other means.”