"you ha' got the promise of the girl?" said dent.

"yes, yes—that's sure and certain."

"all right; then i'll go to the police-court. now look you here, granger—you don't s'pose as i'm really going to give that chap his liberty?"

"you won't wed bet else," replied granger.

"so you say. well, set down, man. we has half-an-hour afore us, and i've got to think one or two things out. are you quite aware, or must i make it plainer to yer, the only way in which i could let will out?"

"it don't seem over clear, for sartin," replied granger. "but you're a clever chap, dent, and i trusts yer. you'll let the lad out, and you'll wed my gel, and you'll give me my share of the siller. come, now—that's plain enough, ain't it?"

"this is plain," said dent, knocking the ashes out of his pipe-the two men were loafing together near one of the quays—"this is plain, and this only—that when will comes out of prison i goes in. i can't prove will scarlett innocent without proving myself t'other thing. is it likely now—you tell me as it's likely—ef i'll lend myself to that sort of plan?"

"only you said it," replied granger. "and for sartin my gel won't wed you else."

"and," continued dent, "when i'm locked up, it won't look too nice for you. there are a few things as 'ull come out about that money as i stole. ef i'm took up, liverpool 'ull be a sight too hot for you, granger. you take my word on that point."

granger's bloated and red face turned pale. he did not speak at all for a moment. then he said, slowly: "you has a plan in your head, isaac dent; and the sooner you outs with it the better it'll be for you and for me."

"yes," said dent, smiling. "you're about right there, mate. i has a plan, and this is it—i mean to go to the police-court to-day—i means to witness there; but not for will scarlett, but agin' him. he'll swear as i give him the notes; i'll swear tother way. his case looks black now—i'll make it of a double-dyed darkness. i'll do for him. that'll be none so difficult."

"but what about bet?" said granger. "i don't care about scarlett. it's nought to me how long he stays in prison. but how'll you get bet to wed you, ef you treats the lad so, is more nor i can make out."

"we'll blind her," said dent. "throw dust in her eyes—eh? that's where you can help me, granger—and five pound, not in notes, but gold, for the job."

granger looked dubious.

"bet's going to the police-court," he said.

"she mustn't go—no, not on no account. look here, granger, you wern't, so to say, special tender and fatherly to them boys o' yourn, were you?"

"what now?" said granger.

"well, just this," replied dent. "i want you to take them boys, and manage so as bet shall have a hint of it, and pretend as you're going to do bad by them. take them out of her sight. she'll follow—she'll spend all the time, while will's little business is being settled, looking for the boys. it can be done, and we'll lure her out of liverpool, and we'll pretend as will is free, until such time as i can wed her. then i don't care what she knows. come into the 'star and garter,' mate—we'll have a drink, and soon fix up this yer business."