“Get up, then,” said Jack, freeing his foot from the stirrup.  “Now—­begin.”

Quilt, however, seemed unwilling to speak.

“I should be sorry to proceed to extremities,” continued Sheppard, again raising the pistol.

“Well, since you force me to betray my master’s secrets,” replied Quilt, sullenly, “I’ve ridden express to Manchester to deliver a message to Sir Rowland.”

“Respecting Thames Darrell?” observed Jack.

“Why, how the devil did you happen to guess that?” cried the janizary.

“No matter,” replied Sheppard.  “I’m glad to find I’m right.  You informed Sir Rowland that Thames Darrell was returned?”

“Exactly so,” replied Quilt, “and he instantly decided upon returning to London with me.  We’ve ridden post all the way, and I’m horribly tired, or you wouldn’t have mastered me so easily.”

“Perhaps not,” replied Jack, to whom an idea had suddenly occurred.  “Now, Sir, I’ll trouble you for your coat.  I’ve left mine on the spikes of the New Prison, and must borrow yours.”

“Why, surely you can’t be in earnest, Captain.  You wouldn’t rob Mr. Wild’s chief janizary?”

“I’d rob Mr. Wild himself if I met him,” retorted Jack.  “Come, off with it, sirrah, or I’ll blow out your brains, in the first place, and strip you afterwards.”

“Well, rather than you should commit so great a crime, Captain, here it is,” replied Quilt, handing him the garment in question.  “Anything else?”

“Your waistcoat.”

“’Zounds!  Captain, I shall get my death of cold.  I was in hopes you’d be content with my hat and wig.”

“I shall require them as well,” rejoined Sheppard; “and your boots.”

“My boots!  Fire and fury!  They won’t fit you; they are too large.  Besides, how am I to ride home without them?”

“Don’t distress yourself,” returned Jack, “you shall walk.  Now,” he added, as his commands were reluctantly obeyed, “help me on with them.”

Quilt knelt down, as if he meant to comply; but, watching his opportunity, he made a sudden grasp at Sheppard’s leg, with the intention of overthrowing him.

But Jack was too nimble for him.  Striking out his foot, he knocked half a dozen teeth down the janizary’s throat; and, seconding the kick with a blow on the head from the butt-end of the pistol, stretched him, senseless and bleeding on the ground.

“Like master like man,” observed Jack as he rolled the inanimate body to the side of the road.  “From Jonathan Wild’s confidential servant what could be expected but treachery?”