"Hush, my good fellow--don't say a word!" said Chichester, recovering his presence of mind. "I am really glad to see you--I have often thought of you since that unpleasant affair. I hope it put you to no inconvenience. At all events, I will make matters all right now." "Better late than never," said Snoggles. "Well--and you must promise me faithfully not to mention this affair to any one, and I will always stand your friend. And, remember--my name is Chichester _now_--not Winchester. Pray do not forget that." "No--no: I'm fly enough--I'm down to trap," replied Snoggles, with a leer of insolent familiarity. "Here is a twenty-pound note--that will cover all your losses, and recompense you into the bargain." "That'll do." "It would be better that you should not say that you ever knew me before." "Just as you like." "I prefer that course. But now to another point. Where did you see Mr. Richard Markham?" "At the station-house, in ---- street." "The station-house! And for what?" "Ah! there you beat me. I can't say! All that I know is that he gave me half-a-sovereign to come and tell his old butler this morning that he should be home in the course of the day." "And that is all you know?" "Everything." "Now can I rely upon you in respect to keeping the other matter secret?" demanded Chichester. "I have already told you so," answered Snoggles. "And you need not tell old Whittingham that his master is at the station-house." [Illustration] Snoggles withdrew and Mr. Chichester was immediately afterwards joined by the baronet. "Markham is at the station-house in ---- street." "The deuce he is! and for what?" "I cannot learn. Do you not think it is odd that he did not send for either of us?" "Yes. We will return to town this moment," said the baronet, "and send some one unknown to him to hear the case at the police-office. We shall then learn whether anything concerning the notes transpires, and what to say to him when we see him." "Yes: there is not a moment to lose," returned Chichester. The cabriolet was brought round to the door again in a few minutes, during which interval Chichester assured Whittingham that he had learned nothing concerning his master, and that he and the baronet were only returning to town for the purpose of looking after him. As soon as the vehicle was out of sight, Mr. Whittingham returned in a disconsolate manner to his pantry, where Mr. Snoggles was occupied with a cold pasty and a jug of good old ale. "Well, I've learnt someot to-day, I have," observed Snoggles, who could not keep a secret for the life of him. "What's that?" demanded Whittingham. "Why that Winchester is Chichester, and Chichester is Winchester." "They are two irrelevant cities," observed the butler; "and not by no manner of means indentical." "The cities is different, but the men is the same," said Snoggles. "I can't apprehend your meaning."