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hether he was quite awake； for two velvet lips seemed to be still touching his。 He stirred； and somebody was gone like the wind； with a rustle of flying petticoats； and his door shut in a moment。 It closed with a catch…lock； this dastardly vision had opened it with her key； and left it open to make good her retreat if he should awake。 Alfred sat up in bed indignant； and somewhat fluttered。 〃Confound her impudence；〃 said he。 But there was no help for it； he grinned and bore it； as he had the blisters； and boluses； &c。； rolled the clothes round his shoulders； and off to the sleep of the just again。 Not so the passionate hypocrite； who； maddened by a paroxysm of jealousy； had taken this cowardly advantage of a prisoner。 She had sucked fresh poison from those honest lips； and filled her veins with molten fire。 She tossed and turned the livelong night in a high fever of passion； nor were the cold chills wanting of shame and fear at what she had done。
In the morning； Alfred remembered this substantial vision； and determined to find out which of those two it was。 〃I shall know by her looks；〃 said he； 〃she won't be able to meet my eye。 Well； the first he saw was Mrs。 Archbold。 She met his eye full with a mild and pensive dignity。 〃Come； it is not you；〃 thought Alfred。 Presently he fell in with Hannah。 She wore a serene； infantine face； the picture of unobtrusive modesty。 Alfred was dumbfoundered。 〃It's not this one； either；〃 said he。 〃But then； it must。 Confound her impudence for looking so modest。〃 However； he did not speak to her； he was looking out for a face that interested him far more： the weather…beaten countenance of Giles Brown。 He saw him once or twice； but could not get him alone till the afternoon。 He invited him into his room： and when he got him there； lost no time。 〃Just look me in the face； Brown；〃 said he quietly。 Brown looked him in the face。
〃Now； sir； am I mad or sane？〃
Brown turned his head away。 Alfred laughed。 〃No； no； none of your tricks； old fellow： look me in the face while you answer。〃
The man coloured。 〃I can't look a gentleman like you in the face； and tell him he is mad。〃
〃I should think not。 Well； now； what shall I give you to help me escape？〃
〃Hush！ don't mention that； sir； it's as much as my place is worth even to listen to you。〃
〃Well！ then I must give you as much as your place is worth。 Please to calculate that； and name the figure。〃
〃My place！ I wouldn't lose it for a hundred pounds。〃
〃Exactly。 Then I'll give you a hundred guineas。〃
〃And how am I to get my money； sir？〃
〃The first time you are out； come to Albion Villa； in Barkington； and I'll have it all ready for you。〃
〃And suppose you were to say； 'No： you didn't ought ever to have been confined'？〃
〃I must trouble you to look in my face again； Mr。 Brown。 Now； do you see treason； bad faith； avarice； ingratitude； rascality in it？〃
〃Not a grain of 'em；〃 said Brown； with an accent of conviction。 〃Well； now； I'll tell you the truth； I can read a gent by this time： and I'm no more afeared for the money than if I had it in my hand。 But ye see； my stomach won't let me do it。〃
This was a sad disappointment； so sudden； too。 〃 Your stomach？〃 said Alfred ruefully。 〃'What do you mean？〃
〃Ay； my stomach。 Wouldn't _your_stomach rise against serving a man that had done you the worst turn one man can do anotherbeen and robbed you of your sweetheart？〃
Alfred stared with amazement。
Brown continued； and now with some emotion： 〃Hannah Blake and I were very good friends till you came； and I was thinking of asking her to name the day； but now she won't look at me。 'Don't come teasing me；' says she； 'I am meat for your master。' It's you that have turned the girl's head； sir。〃
〃Bother the women！〃 said Alfred cordially。 〃Oh； what plagues they are！ And how unjust _you_ are； to spite me for the fault of another。 Can I help the fools from spooning upon me？〃 He reflected a moment then burst out： 〃Brown； you are a duffer； a regular duffer。 What； don't you see your game is to get me out of the place？ If you do； in forty…eight hours I shall be married to my Julia； and that dumpling…faced girl will be cured。 But if you keep me here； by Gee； sir； I'll make hot love to your Hannah； boiling hot； hotter than ever wasout of the isles of Greece。 Oh do help me out； and I'll give you the hundred pounds； and I'll give Hannah another hundred pounds； on condition she marries you： and； if she won't marry you； she shan't have a farthing； only a good hiding。〃
Brown was overpowered by his maniac's logic。 〃You have a head；〃 said he； 〃there's my hand； I'll go in； if I die for it。〃
They now put their heads together over the means。 Brown's plan was to wait； and wait； for an opportunity。 Alfred's was to make one this very night。
〃But how can I？〃 said Brown。 〃I shan't have the key of your room。 I am not on watch in your part to…night。〃
〃Borrow Hannah's。〃
〃Hannah's？ She has got no key of the male patients rooms。〃
〃Oh yes； she has； of mine； at all events。〃
〃What makes you think that； sir？〃 said Brown suspiciously。
Alfred didn't know what to say： he could not tell him why he felt sure she had a key。
〃Just go quietly and ask her for it〃 said he： 〃don't tell her I sent you； now。〃
Brown obeyed； and returned in half…an…hour with the key of the vacant bedroom； where the hobbles and chains were hidden on the arrival of the justices。
She tells me this is the only key she has of any room in this corridor。 But dear heart；〃 said Brown； 〃how quicksighted the women are。 She said； says she； 'If it is to bring sorrowful true lovers together again； Giles； or the like of that I'll try and get the key you want off Mrs。 Archbold's bunch； though I get the sack for it；' says she。 'I know she heaves them in the parlour at night' says Hannah。 She is a trump； you must allow。〃
Alfred coloured up。 He suspected he had been unjust。
〃She is a good； kind； single…hearted girl；〃 said he； 〃and neither of you shall find me ungrateful。〃
It was evident by the alacrity Brown now showed； that he had got his orders from Hannah。
It was agreed that Alfred should be down at night in his clothes； ready to seize the right moment； that Hannah should get the key； and watch the coast clear； and let him out into the corridor； and Brown get him down by a back stairs； and out on the lawn； There he would find a ladder close by the wall； and his own arms and legs must do the rest。
And now Alfred was a changed creature： his eye sparkled； he walked on air； and already sniffed the air of liberty。
After tea Brown brought in some newspapers； and made Alfred a signal； previously agreed on； that the ladder was under the east wall。 He went to bed early； put on his tweed shooting…jacket and trousers； and lay listening to the clock with beating heart。
At first； feet passed to and fro from time to time。 These became less frequent as the night wore on。
Presently a light foot passed； stopped at the door； and made a sharp scratch on it with some metal instrument。
It was the key。 The time was not ripe to use it； but good Hannah had taken this way to let him know she had got it。
This little scratch outside his door； oh it made his heart leap and thrill。 One