“Well, Sir, I’m obliged to you,” said Jackson; “I shall take care to put Mr. Wild on his guard against an assassin.”

“And I shall put Blueskin on the alert against the designs of a traitor,” rejoined Smith, in a tone that sounded like a menace.

“In my opinion,” remarked Kneebone, “it doesn’t matter how soon society is rid of two such scoundrels; and if Blueskin dies by the rope, and Jonathan by the hand of violence, they’ll meet the fate they merit.  Wild was formerly an agent to the Jacobite party, but, on the offer of a bribe from the opposite faction, he unhesitatingly deserted and betrayed his old employers.  Of late, he has become the instrument of Walpole, and does all the dirty work for the Secret Committee.  Several arrests of importance have been intrusted to him; but, forewarned, forearmed, we have constantly baffled his schemes;—­ha! ha!  Jonathan’s a devilish clever fellow.  But he can’t have his eyes always about him, or he’d have been with us this morning at the Mint, eh, Mr. Jackson!”

“So he would,” replied the latter:  “so he would.”

“With all his cunning, he may meet with his match,” continued Kneebone, laughing.  “I’ve set a trap for him.”

“Take care you don’t fall into it yourself,” returned Jackson, with a slight sneer.

“Were I in your place,” said Smith, “I should be apprehensive of Wild, because he’s a declared enemy.”

“And were I in yours,” rejoined the woollen-draper, “I should be doubly apprehensive, because he’s a professed friend.  But we’re neglecting the punch all this time.  A bumper round, gentlemen.  Success to our enterprise!”

“Success to our enterprise!” echoed the others, significantly.

“May I ask whether you made any further inquiries into the mysterious affair about which we were speaking just now?” observed Jackson, turning to the carpenter.

“I can’t say I did,” replied Wood, somewhat reluctantly; “what with the confusion incident to the storm, and the subsequent press of business, I put it off till it was too late.  I’ve often regretted that I didn’t investigate the matter.  However, it doesn’t much signify.  All concerned in the dark transaction must have perished.”

“Are you sure of that,” inquired Jackson.

“As sure as one reasonably can be.  I saw their boat swept away, and heard the roar of the fall beneath the bridge; and no one, who was present, could doubt the result.  If the principal instigator of the crime, whom I afterwards encountered on the platform, and who was dashed into the raging flood by the shower of bricks, escaped, his preservation must have been indeed miraculous.”

“Your own was equally so,” said Jackson ironically.  “What if he did escape?”

“My utmost efforts should be used to bring him to justice.”

“Hum!”

“Have you any reason to suppose he survived the accident?” inquired Thames eagerly.