Mr. Wogan resisted the proposal as being of some risk to his friend, but Kelly would hear of no argument. The plan grew on him, the more he thought of it. 'You can lie snug here for the two days. Mrs. Barnes is to be trusted, devil a doubt. You can travel down with me in safety. I am plain Mr. Johnson here, engaged in smuggling laces from the Continent into England. And once out of London there will be little difficulty in shipping you out of the country until the affair's blown over.' So it was arranged, and Kelly, looking at his watch, says-- 'By my soul, I am late. I should have been with my Lord of Rochester half-an-hour since. The good Bishop will be swearing like a dragoon.' He clapped his hat on his head, took up his cane, and marched to the door. His hand was on the knob, when he turned. 'By the way, Nick, I have something which belongs to you. 'Twas sent to my lodging in Paris by mistake. I brought it over, since I was sure to set eyes on you shortly.' 'Ah,' said Nick. 'Then you expected me, for all your scolding and bullying.' 'To speak the honest truth, Nick,' said Kelly, with a laugh, 'I have been expecting you all the last week.' He went into his bedroom, and brought out the strong-box which Wogan had purchased in Paris. 'Sure there was no mistake,' said Wogan. 'I sent it to you as a reward for your discretion.' 'Oh, you did. Well, you wasted your money, for I have no need for it.' 'Nor I,' replied Wogan. 'But it has a very good lock, and will serve to hold your love-letters.' Kelly laughed carelessly at the careless words, and laid the box aside upon his scrutore. Many a time in the months that followed Wogan saw it there, and the sight of it would waken him to a laugh, for he did not know that a man's liberty, his honour, his love, came shortly to be locked within its narrow space. CHAPTER III MR. WOGAN INSTRUCTS THE IGNORANT PARSON IN THE WAYS OF WOMEN