"Dunno what you mean. Never seen him this morning." Blind George retracted his head with a jerk, and a strange look grew on his face: a look of anger and suspicion; strange because the great colourless eye had no part in it. "Dan," he said, slowly, "them ain't the words of a pal--not of a faithful pal, they ain't. It's a damn lie!" "Lie yourself!" retorted Dan, thrusting him away. "Let go my arm, go on!" "I knew he was coming," Blind George went on, "an' I follered up, an' waited behind them houses other side the Cop. I want my whack, I do. I heared him coming away, an' I called to him, but he scuttled off. I know his step as well as what another man 'ud know his face. I'm a poor blind bloke, but I ain't a fool. What's your game, telling me a lie like that?" He was standing off from the door now, angry and nervously alert. Dan growled, and then said: "You clear out of it. You come to me first from Viney, didn't you? Very well, you're his pal in this. Go and talk to him about it." "I've been--that's where I've come from. I've been to his lodgings in Chapman Street, an' he's gone. Said he'd got a berth aboard ship--a lie. Took his bag an' cleared, soon as ever he could get back from here. He's on for doing me out o' my whack, arter I put it all straight for him--that's about it. You won't put me in the cart, Dan, arter all I done! Where's he gone?" "I dunno nothing about him, I tell you," Dan answered angrily. "You sling your hook, or I'll make ye!" "Dan," said the blind man, in a voice between appeal and threat; "Dan, I didn't put you away, when I found you was here!" "Put me away? You? You can go an' try it now, if you like. I ain't wanted; they won't have me. An' if they would--how long 'ud you last, next time you went into Blue Gate? Or even if you didn't go, eh? How long would a man last, that had both his eyes to see with, eh?" And indeed Blind George knew, as well as Dan himself, that London was unhealthy for any traitor to the state and liberty of Blue Gate. "How long would he last? You try it." "Who wants to try it? I on'y want to know----" "Shut your mouth, Blind George, an' get out o' this place!" Ogle cried, fast losing patience, and making a quick step forward. "Go, or you'll be lame as well as blind, if I get hold o' ye!" Blind George backed involuntarily, but his blank face darkened and twisted devilishly, and he gripped his stick like a cudgel. "Ah, I'm blind, ain't I? Mighty bold with a blind man, ain't ye? If my eyes was like yours, or you was blind as me, you'd----" "Go!" roared Dan furiously, with two quick steps. "Go!" The blind man backed as quickly, fiercely brandishing his stick. "I'll go--just as far as suits me, Dan Ogle!" he cried. "I ain't goin' to be done out o' what's mine! One of ye's got away, but I'll stick to the other! Keep off! I'll stick to ye till--keep off!"