“Can’t I see you some time to-night?” “Where?” answered Phillip, in a faint voice. “At the ‘Cat and Bagpipes’ over the water.” “What time?” “At twelve.” “I’ll be there.” “_Mind you do_,” said Captain Jack, with an ominous wink, and stalked out of the office in a swaggering manner. “What did the officer say to you, Phillip?” the anxious father asked. “He simply said that the case, as it at present stands, looks very awkward for Mr. Bolton.” “Oh, is that all? Yet, methinks he is an unmannerly officer. Did you notice how he winked and blinked at you while he spoke?” “No; did he?” “Yes; and had I not known you well, I should have supposed you knew and had dealings with him at some time.” Phillip attempted to smile, as he said, “Oh, that is nothing; winking their eyes and stroking their noses is only a habit these officers have got. But,” he sighed to himself, “I am in their clutches! but will soon rid myself of the bloodhounds. He must visit _me_ to-night. I cannot if I would go there to his den of thieves. I know the place well, and would not trust myself among the ragamuffins who meet there, no, not for a thousand pieces of gold. Curse the hour I ever met them. I am tracked and dogged. These fellows shall be removed from my path—they _must_ be.” CHAPTER XVII. THE NUBIAN SLAVE AND ELLEN HARMER. It must be confessed that no man living ever felt less remorse for crime of any kind than did Colonel Blood. He had been in several wars, and was a rough-handed, cold-hearted villain. But with all his knavery, he possessed a sort of gentlemanly bearing that admitted him into almost any society of the loose-living period in which he lived, namely, that of the lascivious Charles the Second, whom people are wont to call “the merry monarch.” John Blood had ridden some twenty miles or more; he hired a light and fast four-wheeled vehicle, in order to reach London all the sooner. Ellen Harmer, almost distracted at thus being forcibly borne away from her father’s home, wept and bewailed her cruel fate. But, had she shed tears of gore, they would have had no effect upon the mind or conscience of her rude, rough-handed captor. In order to quiet the beautiful Ellen, he administered to her a glass of wine, in which he had placed a noxious drug. This had the effect of producing sound sleep; nor was she aware of whither the fast-going vehicle was going. All she knew was, that when she awoke on the following morning, she found herself in a sumptuously-decorated chamber. Around her were furniture and articles of beautiful design, and evidently of great price. She rushed out of bed towards the window in great surprise. It was barred. But she could see below her splendid gardens, with fountains playing. Fruit trees and flowers met her astonished gaze on every hand. All was silent. “Am I dreaming?” she thought. “Has all that I have passed through been nought but a cruel excruciating nightmare?”