The servants flew to obey, and when the hole was dug he carried the bag out and lowered it carefully into it, covered it with straw, drenched this with a gallon or more of lamp oil, and rapidly applied a match to it and sprang back.

A moment later those who were watching saw a small black snake make an ineffectual effort to leap out of the blazing mass, fall back into the flames and disappear for ever.

“The method of procedure?” said Cleek, answering the baronet’s query as the latter was pouring out what he called “a nerve settler,” prior to following the Rev. Ambrose’s example and going to bed.  “Very cunning, and yet very, very simple, Sir Henry.  Bucarelli made a practice, as I saw this evening, of helping the chosen watcher to make his bed on the floor in front of the door to the steel room, but during the time he was removing the blankets from the cupboard his plan was to smear them with the coriander and sassafras and so arrange the top blanket that when the watcher lay down the stuff touched his neck or throat and made that the point of attack for the snake, whose fangs make a small round spot not bigger than a knitting needle, which is easily passed over by those not used to looking for such a thing.  There was such a spot on Tolliver’s throat; such another at the base of Murple’s skull, and there is a third in poor Logan’s left temple.  No, thank you—­no more to-night, Sir Henry.  Alcohol and I are never more than speaking acquaintances at the best of times.  But if you really wish to do me a kindness—­”

“I don’t think there is room to doubt that, Mr. Cleek.  If I am certain of anything in this world I am certain of Black Riot’s success on Wednesday; and that success I feel I shall owe to you.  Money can’t offset some debts, you know; and if there is anything in the world I can do, you have only to let me know.”

“Thank you,” said Cleek.  “Then invite me to spend to-morrow here, and give me the freedom of those superb gardens.  My senses are drunk already with the scent of your hyacinths; and if I might have a day among them, I should be as near happy as makes no difference.”

He had his day—­breaking it only to ’phone up to Clarges Street and quiet any possible fears upon Dollops’s part—­and if ever man was satisfied, that man was he.

CHAPTER XV

It was late on the afternoon of the day following when he turned up at Clarges Street and threw Dollops into a very transport of delight at the bare sight of him.

“Crumbs, Gov’nor, but I am glad to see you, sir!” said the boy, with a look of positive adoration.  “A fish out o’ water ain’t a patch to wot I’ve felt like—­Lord, no!  Why, sir, it’s the first time you’ve ever been away from me since you took me on; and the dreams I’ve had is enough to drive a body fair dotty.  I’ve seen parties a-stickin’ knives in your back and puttin’ poison in your food and doin’ the Lord knows wot not to you, sir; and every blessed nerve in my body has been a doin’ of a constant shake—­like a jelly-fish on a cold day.”