"Certainly, sir; and I have men on the look out. The bottle of hay is being pretty well tossed over, and some day I hope to see the shine of the needle among the puzzling dry strands. Good morning." "Is that man a humbug, sir, or in earnest?" "Earnest," replied Uncle Luke. "He proved that before." If the occupants of the hotel room, which seemed to Leslie like a prison, could have read Sergeant Parkins' mind as he went away, they would have thought him in deadly earnest. "Not a criminal case, gentlemen, eh?" he said to himself. "If it is as I think, it is very criminal indeed, and Mr Pradelle will find it so before he is much older. I haven't forgotten the night on Hakemouth Pier, and that poor boy's death, and I shan't feel very happy till I've squared accounts with him, for if he was not the starter of all that trouble I am no judge of men." Volume 3, Chapter XVII. PRADELLE IS PRICKED. Seeing more and more that if an alteration was to be made in their present position, the change must come from her urging, Louise attacked her brother soon after breakfast the next morning. She was fully convinced that Pradelle was determined to keep them in London for reasons of his own--reasons the bare thought of which brought an indignant flush into her cheek; and it was evident that he was gaining greater influence over his old companion, who was just now in the stage when it would be easy for one of strong mind to gain the mastery. This being so, Louise determined that hers should be the strong will, not Pradelle's. To this end she took three or four of the most likely of her jewels, making a point of carefully wrapping them up and dwelling upon the task till she caught her brother's attention. "What are you doing there?" he said. "Getting ready some things upon which to raise money." He uttered an impatient ejaculation. "Leave them till Pradelle comes." "No, Harry; either you or I must part with these. Who is it to be?" "Let Pradelle take them." "No," she said firmly. "It is time that we acted for ourselves. Will you go, or shall I?" "But you heard what he said yesterday?" "Yes, and I do not believe it. Come, Harry, for your own sake, for mine." "Yes, yes; but wait." "You forced me into this compromising position to help you escape from England." "I could not help it." "I am not blaming you; I only say act, or let me." He started from his chair, and stood there swayed by the various passions which pervaded his spirit. "Harry." "I cannot do it." "Then let me go." "No, no, no!" he cried. "I am not so lost to all manly feeling as that. Here, give them to me, and let us get away." "Yes," she said eagerly, "at once. You will go, Harry, and let us cross to-night." He nodded his head, and without another word swept the jewels into his pocket, and made towards the door. As he laid his hand upon the lock he turned sharply and came back.