"We were alone, and I was going to pass on with a civil word; but he begged me to stop, and in such a tone of voice as rather touched me. He then reminded me that we had been companions in evil, and said that he had heard of the change that had taken place in me. He added that he was very unhappy, that he hated himself for his past wicked life, and that as I used to stand his friend formerly when he needed a helping hand, he hoped I would show that my change was a real one by my willingness to give an old mate a lift over the stile and into the same way of peace in which I professed to be walking myself. He had much to tell me and ask of me, he said; but he was afraid of being discovered by the police, spite of his disguise. Would I meet him at Cricketty Hall, he should feel safe there. "I did not know what to say. I could not get rid of my suspicions, notwithstanding his changed tone and manner. He saw it, and said: `You doubt my sincerity. Well, I suppose you'll agree that when a man's sincerity gets into his pocket it's pretty sure to be genuine. Now, you've lent me money at different times, and I never paid any of it back. I've reckoned it up, and it comes altogether to three pounds ten shillings. Here it is; and many thanks to you for lending it me. I'm only sorry that I was not an honest man before.' "I hardly knew what to say; however, I took the money, for I knew that it was due to me. `Well, will you trust me now?' he asked. `Meet me, Levi, to-morrow night just after dark outside my house,' I said, `and I will tell you then.' He hesitated a little, and then said, `Very well,' and left me. I was sorely puzzled, and could not tell what to think. And then at last it occurred to me that perhaps it was wrong in me to hang back. There _might_ be a real change beginning even in such a man as Levi Sharples. The Lord had been merciful to me, and why not to him? There hadn't been much to choose between us in badness in bygone days; and should I be right in repelling the poor man if I could be in any way the means of bringing him into the narrow way? Well, you know the rest. We met the next night; and, mercifully for me, Jim Barnes, as I find from him, overheard the appointment to meet at Cricketty Hall; and wonderfully and graciously has the Lord kept me _in_ my trouble, and delivered me out of it." "But how do you suppose that Sharples got hold of that money?" asked Bradly.