“Ay, was he! He not only hid the tinder and chips--” Just as Freney had got thus far, he drew his legs up close beneath him, sunk down his head as if into his neck, and with a spring, such as a tiger might have given, cleared the space between himself and the door, and rolled over on the floor, with the trembling figure of Linwood under him. So terribly sudden was the leap, that Miss Daly and Bicknell scarcely saw the bound ere they beheld him with one hand upon the victim's throat, while with the other he drew forth a clasp-knife, and opened the blade with his teeth. “Keep back, keep back!” said Freney, as Bicknell drew nigh; and the words came thick and guttural, like the deep growl of a mastiff. “Who are you, and what brings you here?” said Freney, as, setting his knee on the other's chest, he relinquished the grasp by which he had almost choked him. [Illustration: 382] “I came to see Mr. Bicknell,” muttered the nearly lifeless valet. “What did you want with me?” “Wait a bit,” interposed Freney. “Who brought you here? How came you to be standing by that door?” “Mr. Bicknell's servant showed me the house, and a child brought me to this room.” “There, sir,” said Freney, turning his head towards Bicknell, without releasing the strong pressure by which he pinned the other down,--“there, sir, so much for your caution. You told me if I came to this lady's lodgings here, that I was safe, and now here 's this fellow has heard us and everything we 've said, maybe these two hours.” “I only heard about Newgate,” muttered the miserable Linwood; “I was but a few minutes at the door, and was going to knock. I came from Lord Wall incourt with papers of great importance for Mr. Bicknell. I have them, if you'll let me--” “Let him get up,” said Miss Daly, calmly. Freney stood back, and retired between his victim and the door, where he stood, with folded arms and bent brows, watching him. “He has almost broke in my ribs,” said Linwood, as he pressed his hands to his side, with a grimace of true suffering. “So much for eaves-dropping. You need expect no pity from me,” said Miss Daly, sternly. “Where are these papers?” “My Lord told me,” said the man, as he took them from his breast, “that I was to give them into Mr. Bicknell's own hands, with strictest directions to have them forwarded at the instant But for that,” added he, whining, “I had never come to this.” “Let it be a lesson to you about listening, sir,” said Miss Daly. “Had my brother been here--” “Oh, by the powers!” broke in Freney, “he 'd have pitched you neck and crop into the water-hogshead below, if your master was the Lord-Lieutenant.” By this time Bicknell was busy reading the several addresses on the packets, and the names inscribed in the corners of each. “If I 'm not mistaken, madam,” said he to Miss Daly, “this Lord Wallincourt is the new peer, whose brother died at Lisbon. The name is Forester.” “Yes, sir, you are right,” muttered Linwood.