but if we cannot get that we will split; and you know well enough that, even if they seem to believe you against us, you would be completely disgraced through such a charge."

He was amazed at the discoveries they had made, and felt completely in their power.

"How much do you want? But, mind you, I don't admit a word that you have uttered."

"Five hundred pounds, and we'll cry quits."

“Five hundred fiddlesticks!" cried Robert, whom the dogged determination of these men began to bathe in perspiration. "Why! I

could not raise

depended on it.

such a

sum if my life Besides what guarantee

should I have that you would not begin again after you had got the money?"

"We'll sign a paper before witnesses, saying the charge is all false, and made to extort money."

"Well, I will consider the matter."

"No, no, that won't do for us; we must have the money or something on account tonight," said the lesser man, who hitherto had not spoken.

At this juncture Tom came suddenly upon the three men, and was much surprised to find that Robert was one of them, for he had supposed that gentleman to be abroad. Although he did not hear the precise words last spoken, he observed from the tone in which they were uttered that the men were quarrelling. He saw also that Robert was by no means pleased at being caught in such doubtful company. He, however, walked up to his old school-fellow, and cordially held out his hand, upon which Robert turned with him towards the Hall, calling out as they went off together

"I will see you in the morning about those dogs, my men."

Then addressing Tom

"You don't go in for dogs, Kent. It's well for you; it brings you into communication with such hang-dog looking fellows. Just look at those two; you would think they had been convicts."

Tom thought that this hardly explained matters, but he kept his suspicions to himself. In a few minutes they had reached the Hall, and for the present he forgot all about the circumstance.

CHAPTER VIII.

ROBERT.

Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.

SHAKESPEARE: "Merchant of Venice,"

Act V., Scene 1.

OM found Charlie and Hilda in the

drawing-room, playing at chess, their favourite game, and, as he joined them, Robert disappeared.

"Take his king, Miss Rowlandson," he exclaimed, jestingly, as he entered.

The brother and sister sprang up in surprise at seeing him so unexpectedly, and gave him a hearty welcome.

"I had occasion to come to Hillside, so I thought I would walk down before going back to Hamfield.”

"I should rather think so, my boy," said Charlie. "Why! it would be as much as your life is worth even to dream of approaching so near without coming to see us. But I was just about mating Hilda when you came in, so if you will keep quiet for half a minute I will finish her off."

"Don't holloa till you are out of the wood, young man," said Hilda.

"Check; I'm not sure that it isn't mate.' "Where?"

"Discovered."

"Now, Charlie, why will you persist in these useless checks."

"It isn't useless."

"I see it is not," said Hilda, noting that in discovering check he had exposed his queen to attack.

A few more moves and she swept off his best piece, whereupon he declared himself beaten.

"I fear you are becoming a formidable