370 TEE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



"Well, Bayntun, if you do not regard the trouble, and can 

 succeed with us in upsetting liini altogether, Beauchanip and 

 myself will double our stakes, and make you a present of ten 

 thousand pounds, which I hope will set you straight." 



"Will you, by Jove, Malcolm ?" 



" Yes, we will, indeed ; and sign an agreement to that effect;, 

 if you require it." 



" No, no, old fellow ; I can trust your word and Beauchanip' s 

 — but a thought has struck me, which I think will help us a 

 little to clear up this mystery. In Mangle's den — which, by 

 the way, is a dark, gloomy room — there is a sham book-case, 

 lettered outside with reports and law books, but hollow within, 

 and the key generally left in the door of this closet, which con- 

 tains only a few old dusty parchments. Now, as I know he 

 will be absent to-morrow from two until four o'clock, I will 

 take my tiger with me, who is a sharp, quick boy, smuggle him 

 into the closet, whilst I write a few lines just to rouse him a 

 little, and return for an answer in half-an-hour, leaving the boy ? 

 with the key inside, to hear the remarks Mangle makes on my 

 letter, which I shall leave on the table." 



" But suppose he should discover the boy % " 



" Then the little rascal shall have his story all ready, to say 

 he got there to overhear what his master and the lawyer were 

 talking about ; and a caning from me — which, of course, won't 

 hurt him over much — but I shall watch my friend into his den, 

 and allow him time only to read the letter." 



" Well, Bayntun/' replied Malcolm, " I must leave you to 

 your own devices ; so now, good-bye, as Beauchamp is waiting 

 for me." 



About half-past three the following day, Lord Henry drove 

 in his cab to Lincoln's Inn, with his tiger behind, to whom he 

 had previously given instructions how to act, and his training- 

 groom inside, dressed as a gentleman, who held the reins, while 

 Lord Henry alighted at Mangle's door, and going to the clerk's 

 room, inquired if he had returned. 



" No, my lord," was the reply ; " but we expect him in at 

 four o'clock." 



" Very well," said Lord Henry, " I cannot wait now ; but as 

 I wish to see him on particular business, I will write a note in 

 his room, and leave it on his table." 



" Oh, certainly, my lord," showing him into his employer's 

 sanctum, and placing writing materials before him, after which 

 the clerk returned to his own business, and the boy, who had 



