"Nothing; nothing. On my honour. I have often been in the shop, sometimes of an evening. The father has invited me to some grog in the parlour behind it, and I have sat there for an hour chatting with him and the girl. That's all. She is a well-behaved, modest little girl; none better." "Well, Tom, with one imprudence and another, you stand a fair chance----" "There, there! Don't preach, Charley. What you call imprudence, I call fun." "What do you think of doing? To remain on here for ever in this disguise?" "Couldn't, I expect, if I wanted to. I must soon see about getting away." "You must get away at once." "I am not going yet, Charley; take my word for that; and I am as safe in London, I reckon, as I should be elsewhere. Don't say but I may have to clear out of this particular locality. If that burly policeman is going to make a permanent beat of it about here, he might drop upon me some fine evening." "And you must exchange your sailor's disguise, as you call it, for a better one." "Perhaps so. That rough old coat you have on, Charley, might not come amiss to me." "You can have it. Why do you fear that policeman should know you, more than any other?" "He was present at the trial last August. Was staring me in the face most of the day. His name's Wren." I sighed. "Well, Tom, it is getting late; we have sat here as long as is consistent with safety," I said, rising. He made me sit down again. "The later the safer, perhaps, Charley. When shall we meet again?" "Ay; when, and where?" "Come to-morrow evening, to this same spot. It is as good a one as any I know of. I shall remain indoors all day tomorrow. Of course one does not care to run needlessly into danger. Shall you find your way to it?" "Yes, and will be here; but I shall go now. Do be cautious, Tom. Do you want any money? I have brought some with me." "Many thanks, old fellow; I've enough to go on with for a day or two. How is Blanche? Did she nearly die of the disgrace?" "She did not know of it. Does not know it yet." "No!" he exclaimed in astonishment. "Why, how can it have been kept from her? She does not live in a wood." "Level has managed it, somehow. She was abroad during the trial, you know. They have chiefly lived there since, Blanche seeing no English newspapers; and, of course, her acquaintances do not gratuitously speak to her about it. But I don't think it can be kept from her much longer." "But where does she think I am--all this time?" "She thinks you are in India with the regiment." "I suppose _he_ was in a fine way about it!" "Level? Yes--naturally; and is still. He would have saved you, Tom, at any cost." "As you would, and one or two more good friends; but, you see, I did not know what was coming upon me in time to ask them. It fell upon my head like a thunderbolt. Level is not a bad fellow at bottom." "He is a downright good one--at least, that's my opinion of him."