Her heart sank as she recognized the echo of her own thoughts. It was absurd that the mediocrity of Amber’s criminal attainments should fill her with numb despair, but so it was. “No, he’s not Big--although,” said Lambaire hastily, “I’ve no sympathy for the Big Mob.” “With the----?” She was puzzled. “With the Big Mob--the high-class nuts--you know what I mean--the----” He looked round helplessly for Whitey. “I think I understand,” she said. They walked on in silence for another five minutes. “Do you think that if some good influence were brought to bear on a man like Mr. Amber----” “No, absolutely no, miss,” said Lambaire emphatically, “he’s the sort of man that only gaol can reform. A friend of mine, who is Governor of Clemstead Gaol, told me that Amber was one of the most hardened prisoners he’d ever had--there’s no hope for a man like that.” Cynthia sighed. In a vague way she wondered how it came about that such a man as she judged Lambaire to be, should have friends in the prison service. “A bad lot,” said Lambaire as they turned into the station. On the platform Cynthia took her brother aside, whilst the other two were making inquiries regarding the arrival of a train. “I shall go back to the house--I suppose you are determined to go through with this expedition?” “Of course,” irritably; “for Heaven’s sake, Cynthia, don’t let us go into this matter again.” She shrugged her shoulders, and was about to make some remark, when Lambaire came hurrying along the platform, his face eloquent of triumph. “Look here,” he said, and beckoned. Wondering what could have animated this lymphatic man, she followed with her brother. She turned a corner of the station building, then came to a sudden stop, and went white to the lips. Under the care of two armed warders were a dozen convicts in the ugly livery of their servitude. They were chained wrist to wrist, and each handcuff was fastened to the next by a steel chain. Conspicuous in the foremost file was Amber, bright, cheerful, unaffected by this ignominious situation. Then he saw the girl, and his eyes dropped and a scarlet flush came to his tanned cheek. “My Lambaire,” he murmured, “I owe you one for this.” CHAPTER XI INTRODUCES CAPTAIN AMBROSE GREY “You’re for the governor, 634,” said the warder. “You surprise me, my warder,” said Amber ironically. “Less of your lip,” said the man shortly, “you’ve lost enough marks in this month without askin’ for any further trouble.” Amber said nothing. He stepped out from his cell and marched ahead of the warder down the steel stairway that led to the ground floor of the prison hall. Captain Cardeen sat behind his table and greeted Amber unpleasantly. Exactly why he should take so vindictive an interest in his charge, could be explained. “634,” said the governor, “you’ve been reported again for impertinence to an officer of the prison.” Amber made no reply.