“But wherefore such precautions? You blind--you deceive me; what have you done?--what is your employment now? You are mute. Hark you, Gawtrey. I have pinned my fate to you--I am fallen from hope itself! At times it almost makes me mad to look back--and yet you do not trust me. Since your return to Paris you are absent whole nights--often days; you are moody and thoughtful--yet, whatever your business, it seems to bring you ample returns.” “You think that,” said Gawtrey, mildly, and with a sort of pity in his voice; “yet you refuse to take even the money to change those rags.” “Because I know not how the money was gained. Ah, Gawtrey, I am not too proud for charity, but I am for--” He checked the word uppermost in his thoughts, and resumed-- “Yes; your occupations seem lucrative. It was but yesterday Birnie gave me fifty napoleons, for which he said you wished change in silver.” “Did he? The ras-- Well! and you got change for them?” “I know not why, but I refused.” “That was right, Philip. Do nothing that man tells you.” “Will you, then, trust me? You are engaged in some horrible traffic! it may be blood! I am no longer a boy--I have a will of my own--I will not be silently and blindly entrapped to perdition. If I march thither, it shall be with my own consent. Trust me, and this day, or we part to-morrow.” “Be ruled. Some secrets it is better not to know.” “It matters not. I have come to my decision--I ask yours.” Gawtrey paused for some moments in deep thought. At last he lifted his eyes to Philip, and replied: “Well, then, if it must be. Sooner or later it must have been so; and I want a confidant. You are bold, and will not shrink. You desire to know my occupation--will you witness it to-night?” “I am prepared: to-night!” Here a step was heard on the stairs--a knock at the door--and Birnie entered. He drew aside Gawtrey, and whispered him, as usual, for some moments. Gawtrey nodded his head, and then said aloud-- “To-morrow we shall talk without reserve before my young friend. To-night he joins us.” “To-night!--very well,” said Birnie, with his cold sneer. “He must take the oath; and you, with your life, will be responsible for his honesty?” “Ay! it is the rule.” “Good-bye, then, till we meet,” said Birnie, and withdrew. “I wonder,” said Gawtrey, musingly, and between his grinded teeth, “whether I shall ever have a good fair shot at that fellow? Ho! ho!” and his laugh shook the walls.