They knew not what to say or do; and their countenances betrayed their guilt. "Yes, gentlemen," resumed Pocock, growing excited, "these are the men whom some extraordinary chance--some providential or devilish design--has brought here this evening to confirm all I have told you." "Devil take this impudence!" cried Chichester, now once more recovering his wonted self-possession, and determining to brave the accusation out: "my name isn't Chichester--you're quite mistaken, my good fellow--I can assure you that you are." "Liar!" cried the engraver, furiously: "I should know you both amongst a million!" "And so should I," calmly observed Markham, now advancing from his obscure corner, and appearing in the presence of those who so little expected to see him there. A tremendous sensation now prevailed in the room, and those who were spectators anxiously awaited the result of this strange drama. "Yes--there are indeed the villains to whom I am indebted for all the miseries I have endured," continued Markham. "But say not that a lucky accident brought _us_ all here together this night,--think not that a mere chance occasioned the present meeting of the deceivers and the deceived:--no; it was the will of the Almighty, to establish the innocence of an injured man!" A solemn silence succeeded these words, which were delivered in a tone which produced an impression of awe upon all who heard them. Even the depraved and hardened men that were present on this occasion, in the parlour of the _Dark House_, gazed with respect upon the young man who dared to speak of the Almighty in that den of dissipation. Markham continued after a short pause:-- "Were it not that I should be involving in ruin a man who has spontaneously come forward to proclaim his own guilt, to declare his repentance, and to assert my innocence--without hope of reward from me, and even without knowing that God had sent me hither to overhear every word he uttered--were it not that I should be inflicting upon _him_ the deepest injury, I would this moment assign you to the custody of the police, as the instigators of the diabolical fraud in which Talbot was your tool, and I your scape-goat. But though I shall take no steps to punish you, heaven will not allow you to triumph in your career of turpitude!" [Illustration] "Well spoken," said Mr. Chichester, perceiving that he was in no danger, and therefore assuming an air of bravado. "Upon my honour, I can't comprehend all this," muttered the baronet. "Let us go, my dear fellow--I do not admire your Spitalfields' riff-raff." "Yes--go--depart!" cried Markham; "or else I shall not be able to restrain my indignation." "They shan't go without a wolloping, however," said the butcher, very coolly taking off his apron, and turning up the sleeves of his blue stuff jacket. "I'll take one--who'll tackle the other?"