Her eyes falling with that, and her pale face growing to a deeper colour, I had no doubt of the main thing, though I could not follow her precise drift. And I take it, there are few men who, upon such an invitation, however veiled, would not respond. Accordingly I took a step towards the girl, and went, though clumsily, to put my arm round her. But she pushed me off with a vigour that surprised me; and she mocked me with a face between mischief and triumph; a face that was more like a mutinous boy's than a girl's. "Oh, no," she said. "There is a good deal between this and that, Mr. Price." "How?" I said shamefacedly. "Do you go?" she asked sharply. "Is it settled? That first of all, if you please." As to the going--somewhere--I had made up my mind long ago; before I met her, or went into the Seven Stars, or knew that a dozen mad topers were roaring treason about the town, and bidding fair to hang us all. But being of a cautious temper, and seeing conditions which I had not contemplated added to the bargain, and having besides a shrewd idea that I could not afterwards withdraw, I hesitated. "It is dangerous!" I said. "I will tell you what is dangerous," she answered, wrathfully, showing her little white teeth as she flashed her eyes at me, "and that is to be where we are. Do you know what they are doing there--in that house?" And she pointed towards the Market, whence we had come. "No," I said reluctantly, wishing she would say no more. "Killing the King," she answered in a low voice. "It is for Saturday, or Saturday week. He is to be stopped in his coach as he comes from hunting--in the lane between Turnham Green and the river. You can count their chances. They are merry plotters! And now--now," she continued, "do you know where you stand, Mr. Price, and whether it is dangerous?" "I know"--I said, trembling at that bloody design, which no whit surprised me since everything I had heard corroborated it--"I know what I have to do." "What?" she said. "Go straight to the Secretary's office," I said, "and tell him. Tell him!" "You won't do it," she answered, "or, at least, I won't." "Why?" I asked, atremble with excitement. "Why?" she echoed, mocking me; and I noticed that not only were her eyes bright, but her lips red. "Why, firstly, Mr. Price, because I want to have done with plots and live honestly; and that is not to be done on blood-money. And secondly, because it is dangerous--as you call it. Do you want to be an evidence, set up for all to point at, and six months after to be decoyed to Wapping, dropped into a dark hold, and carried over to France?" "God forbid!" I said, aghast at this view of things. "Then have done with informing," she answered, with a little spurt of heat. "Or let be, at any rate, until we are safe ourselves and snug in the country. Then if you choose, and you do nothing to hurt my uncle--for I will not have him touched--we may talk of it. But not for money."