"Yes—I remember that I did make use of those or similar words!" cried Rainford. "But how the deuce did it happen that I never once caught a glimpse of you?" "Oh! sir—I acted with so much caution," replied the lad; "and then you did not suspect that you was watched." "True!" said Tom thoughtfully. "And of course you reported all this to Old Death?" "I followed you on to Lock's Fields, and then returned to Seven Dials, where I told Mr. Bones and Mrs. Bunce all I had seen and heard." "And what did they say? Tell me every thing, Jacob," exclaimed the highwayman. "They seemed very much surprised to think that you and Miss Esther were intimate together——" Jacob suddenly paused—for again did a dark cloud overspread Tom Rain's countenance. "Go on, Jacob," he said, observing that the lad was alarmed. "I am subject to a sudden pain——but it is nothing at all. Go on, I say. You were telling me that Old Death and that disgusting woman, Mrs. Bunce, were very much astonished at a certain circumstance. Well—and what did they say?" "They asked me whether either you, sir, or the lady took any little thing—when the jeweller's back was turned," replied Jacob, timidly; "but I assured them that you did not." A scornful smile curled the highwayman's lips and then he puffed away violently at his cigar—apparently wrapped in deep reflection. "Shall I tell you any more, sir?" asked Jacob, when a few minutes of profound silence had elapsed. "Yes, my boy: go on!" cried Tom, turning towards him again. "The very next night," resumed Jacob, "Mr. Bones and me were walking down Southampton Row, Russell Square, you know—when I observed Miss Esther de Medina in a shop——" "Where there was a post-office?" ejaculated the highwayman, hastily. "Just so, sir. And she was reading a letter," continued Jacob. "Then me and Old Death followed her down to another post-office—it was in Holborn—where she posted a letter which she had with her. I crept close up to her and saw the address on it just before she dropped it into the box." "And what was that address?" demanded Rainford. "_T. R., No. 5, Brandon Street, Lock's Fields_," was the answer. "And you of course told _that_ to Old Death?" "Yes—and he desired me to follow the lady to see where she lived; which I did, and traced her to Great Ormond Street. Then I went back to Bunce's, and acquainted Mr. Bones with this fact also. He was very much pleased; and soon afterwards you came in. He then told you about going to Shooter's Hill to stop a tradesman and his wife; but I afterwards found out that it was only a gag to get you out of the way next night." "Ah! I thought as much!" cried Rainford. "And now, I suppose, we come to the visit which Mr. Bones, Toby Bunce, and yourself paid to my lodgings?"