"Y--e--e--s, I hope so, sir," replied Ben Bran, hesitatingly. "And men of business--men of our word?" "Honor among thieves--ay, ay," answered Ben, in a still lower tone, and very eagerly. "Then let you and me meet _alone_, this time to-morrow, at Darkling Edge; and by that time, do you see, turn this over in your mind," here the stranger twice held up both his hands, with outstretched thumbs and fingers. "_Sure_ we understand each other?" he added. Ben nodded, and they were presently out of sight of each other. The stranger immediately pulled off his green spectacles, and also a pair of gray whiskers, and put both of them into his pocket. If any one attempted to _dog_ him, he must have been led a pretty round! 'Twas in consequence of this interview that Ben made the application to Gammon, which had so disturbed him, and which has been already described. And to return to our friend: what was he to do? On entering the library at the Hall, he opened a secret drawer in his desk, and took out a thin slip of paper which he had deposited there that morning, it having been then received by him from town, marked "_Private and Confidential_," and franked "BLOSSOM and BOX." 'Twas but a line, and written in a bold hand, but in evident haste; for it had in fact been penned by Lord Blossom and Box while he was sitting in the Court of Chancery. This is a copy of it:-- "The election _must_ be won. You will hear from E---- by this post. Don't address any note to _me_. "B. and B."