Page 253 [253]
191
“ Do you hear me call ?
cried Sikes, whistling.
The animal came up from the very
force of habit; but as Sikes stooped to at¬
tach the handkerchief to his throat, he
uttered a low growl, and started back.
6 Come back,” said the robber, stamp¬
ing on the ground. The dog wagged his
tail, but moved not. Sikes made a run¬
ning noose, and called him again.
The dog advanced, retreated, paused
an instant, turned, and scoured away at
his hardest speed.
The man whistled again and again,
and sat down and waited in the expecta¬
tion that he would return. But no dog
appeared, and he resumed his journey.
Come here,”
CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH.
Monks aud Mr. Brownlow at length meet. Their
conversation, and the intelligence that inter¬
rupts it.
Tue twilight was beginning to close in
when Mr. Brownlow alighted from a
hackney coach at his own door, and
knocked softly. ‘The door being opened,
a sturdy man got out of the coach, and
stationed himself on one side of the steps,
while another man, who had been seated
on the box, dismounted too, and stood
upon the other side. Ata sign from Mr.
Brownlow, they helped out a third man,
and taking him between them, hurried
him into the house. ‘This man was
Monks.
They walked in the same manner up
the stairs without speaking, and Mr.
Brownlow preceding them, led the way
into a back room. At the door of this
apartment, Monks, who had ascended
with evident reluctance, stopped. The
two men looked to the old gentleman as
if for instructions.
c He knows the alternative,” said Mr.
Brownlow. “If he hesitates, or moves a
finger but as you bid him, drag him into
the street, call for the aid of the police,
and impeach him as a felon in my name.”
6 How dare you say this of me ?’’—ask¬
ed Monks.
“ How dare you urge me to it, young
. man "replied Mr. Brownlow, confront¬
ing him with a steady look. “Are you
mad enough to leave this house? Un¬
hand him. There, sir. You are free to go,
and we to follow. But I warn you by all
I hold most solemn and most sacred, that
the instant you set foot in the street, that
instant [ will have you apprehended on a
charge of fraud and robbery. [am reso-~
lute and immoveable. If you are deter¬
mined to be the same, your blood be upon
your own head.”
“ By what authority am I kidnapped in
the street and brought here by these
dogs!" asked Monks, looking from one to
on other of the men, who stood beside
im.
“By mine,” replied Mr. Brownlow.
“These persons are indemnified by me.
If you complain of being deprived of your
liberty, you had power and opportunity to
retrieve it as you came along, but you
deemed it advisable to remain quiet. I
say again, throw yourself for protection
upon the law. I will appeal to the law
too; but when you have gone too far to
recede, do not sue to me for leniency,
when the power will have passed into
other hands, and do not say I plunged you
down the gulf into which you rushed
yourself.”
Monks was plainly disconcerted, and
alarmed besides. He hesitated.
“You will decide quickly,” said Mr.
Brownlow, with perfect firmness and com¬
posure. “If you wish me to prefer my
charges publicly, and consign you to a
punishment, the extent of which, although
I can, with a shudder, foresee, I cannot
control, once more, I say, you know the
way. If not, and you appeal to my for¬
bearance, and the mercy of those you
have deeply injured, seat yourself with¬
out a word in that chair. It has waited
for you two whole days."
Monks muttered some unintelligible
words, but wavered still.
* You will be prompt,” said Mr. Brown¬
low. “A word from me, and the alter.
native is gone for ever.”
Still the man hesitated.
s [ have not the inclination to parle
further,” said Mr. Brownlow, “and as
advocate the dearest interests of others, I
have not the right.”
“Is there—” demanded Monks witha
faltering tongue, “is there—no middle
course !"
“None; emphatically none.”
Monks looked at the old gentleman
with an anxious eye, but reading in his
countenance nothing but severity and de¬
termination, walked into the room, and
shrugging his shoulders, sat down.
6 Lock the door on the outside,” sad
Mr. Brownlow to the attendants, “and
come when Í ring.”
The men obeyed, and the two were
left alone together.
“This is pretty treatment, sir,” said
i