"Hurrah!" he cried in his excitement. For it was the Great Seal of the United Kingdom. The burglar examined it critically, and then felt its weight. "Five quid," he said, putting it down contemptuously. Hilton dropped it carefully into his pocket. At this moment the electric light was suddenly switched on, and the whole place was brilliantly illuminated. They both turned sharply towards the door. There in his dressing-gown stood an old gentleman. Hilton had often seen those classic features in photographs or the illustrated papers. He recognised them at once. It was the Lord Chancellor. "What are you doing here?" came the stern judicial voice. "We are--er--we are making the Home Circuit, my lord," said Hilton deferentially. "May I ask your lordship to be good enough to lower your voice. You perceive that I am armed." "You would dare to fire on me, sir?" said the Lord Chancellor. "I hope it will not be necessary; for in that case your lordship would not hunt next season with the Bister Vale. Will you please take that seat?" His lordship sank into the chair. "You are a bold man," he said, after a pause. "A bold, bad man, I fear, my lord. And so is my partner, Mr. William Sikes here. Aren't you, William?" William did not reply. He was gazing intently at the Lord Chancellor. "Ain't yer name 'Ardy?" he asked. "'Enery 'Ardy?" "It used to be," replied his lordship. "I thought so," said Mr. Sikes. "Then I says to yer face you're a bloomin', footlin' rotter." "'Gently, brother, gently, pray,'" said Hilton. "A bloomin', footlin' rotter," repeated Mr. Sikes with the earnestness of conviction. "An' I've waited five-an'-twenty year to tell you so." "Ah," said the Lord Chancellor, with some interest. "How is that?" "I once paid you to defend me at the Dawchester 'Sizes respectin' a mare wot 'ad follered me inter 'Ampshire. A sickenin' 'ash you made of it. You got two quid fer the job, an' I got two year. I b'lieve you woz boozed." "Pray forgive William, my lord," said Hilton. "He forgets himself strangely when he's excited. We have a lot of trouble with him at home." William glared at him. "I ain't forgot that bloke's ugly mug, any'ow. I swore I'd be quits with 'im one day, an', holy Moses, it's my go now." Saying this, he clutched his jemmy, and advanced threateningly towards his lordship. "Stay, you fool!" Hilton cried. "If you dare to touch him I'll shoot you. Get back." William hesitated. "If you don't get back before I count three I'll lame you for life. One--two----" William retired sullenly. "My lord," said Hilton, "I must draw this painful interview to a close. Your presence excites William, and he's always dangerous when excited. We will retire. Before I go, I wish to give you my word of honour that anything we may take away with us to-night will be again in your possession within forty-eight hours." "Your word of honour, sir!" repeated his lordship with withering contempt.