“Then go away and hide yourself somewhere for to-night, and be at Paddington to-morrow at twelve, and you shall go down with me.” “And Rees, what about Rees?” asked Sep, who although he had lost most of his old enthusiasm about his friend, still retained the remains of a dogged and not very reasonable devotion to him. “You don’t think I should forget him,” said Deborah, gravely. “Of course not,” he answered, hastily. “You will get him out of the scrape too?” “Certainly.” “But there are so many other scrapes behind this one!” “I think I can get them all hushed up.” “But then there’s Goodhare,” whispered Sep, with a shudder. “He’ll have us both back if he wants to!” “I think he will find it expedient to keep out of the way for the future. Now come, we haven’t much time.” She held out her hand, assuming a tone of greater confidence than she felt; for she feared that at the last moment Sep might decline to part with the treasure entrusted to him. However, he looked at her outstretched hand, and then, irresolutely, tremblingly drew out from a pocket of his coat first one flat packet, and then another. Deborah could scarcely refrain from snatching them, or keep her fingers from quivering, as she took them and hid them in the front of her own dress, under her mantle. Sep felt a-trembling as soon as he had given them up, and buried his face in his hands. “And now,” said she, softly, “I must find Lord St. Austell. He went out at that door, following Goodhare.” Sep started up wildly. “Following Goodhare!” he almost shouted. Then, sinking his voice to a hoarse whisper, he stammered out: “You musn’t hope anything from Lord St. Austell, then. If Goodhare took him where I expect he did, he would never let him out alive. Goodhare hates him, and he is more devil than man!” Deborah rose quickly and quietly and opened the door into the yard. “Take me to this place at once,” said she. Remonstrance with her was useless. With staggering steps Sep accompanied her along the outer passage. CHAPTER XXIII. Deborah had scarcely got outside the door when she perceived that something more than moral force would be wanted to keep Sep Jocelyn up to the simple task she wished him to perform. The mere thought of intruding unbidden upon Amos Goodhare caused him so much trepidation that she was able to measure the awful extent of the influence the old man had established over the younger ones. When, therefore, Sep had stopped and hesitated half-a-dozen times, she put her hand through his arm and gently urged him forward. “You had better go back; let me take you back,” he whispered, afraid of the strength of her compelling will. “Not until you have shown me Goodhare’s hiding-place, and I have assured myself that Lord St. Austell is safe,” she answered firmly. Sep took a few steps forward with a groan, and stopped short in some relief a couple of feet from the wall at the turn in the passage.