Solomon Fewster groaned. Without another word he opened the door by which the Lascar had entered, and walked into the open air. The snow-fall had ceased, and the stars were shining. The moon, too, had risen, and clouds of light and deep shade were gliding swiftly across it, while everchanging shadows were playing on the snow. In the distance he heard the waits; they were a long way off, and the strains of music fell upon his ears chastened and mellowed. He was in danger; he had allied himself with this man, who made so light of the shedding of blood; and he had been made a confederate in perhaps a murder. Not that he had any compunction; not that he had any pity. Nothing would have rejoiced him more than to have heard that Joshua had been killed in a mutiny, had been wrecked, or had lost his life on sea or on land by any means, so that he was not implicated in it. The feelings that disturbed him now were purely selfish; he had to save himself from suspicion, supposing any discovery were made. Perhaps it would be best, after all, to speak plainly to the Lascar. There were no witnesses, and it did not matter much what he said. If Joshua were dead, the Lascar must be got rid of at any sacrifice of money. Thus resolving, he returned to the room. The Lascar was sitting patiently before the fire, and did not even raise his eyes as Mr. Fewster entered. "He did not know what I went out for," thought Mr. Fewster. "I might have gone for a policeman, and if I had brought one in, he would have declared I was his accomplice." "Has it left off snowing, master?" asked the Lascar. "Yes." "Then it wouldn't be quite safe for me to go away to-night--safe for you, I mean." "You can stop here to-night." "Thank you, master. Have I done well?" "It doesn't matter whether I say you have done well or ill; so, to save argument, suppose I say you have done well. Now, attend. If what you have done to-night should turn out to be"-- "Say murder, master," said the Lascar, seeing that Mr. Fewster hesitated to speak plainly. "I don't mind." "If it should turn out to be that, have you considered that you are in danger?" "I haven't thought of it, master, and that's a fact. But if I am in danger, so are you." "That may or may not be. The only danger I am in is from what you might say; and, supposing I had spoken to you only once in my life, you would be free to say any thing of me, or of any one else, for that matter. What you might say wouldn't be evidence, you know." "True, master: but, at all events, I could ruin your chances with pretty Ellen Taylor." "What satisfaction would that be to you?" "Every satisfaction," said the Lascar with a kindling eye. "If any one hurts me, I hurt him." "As you have hurt Joshua Marvel, because he hurt you."