"You had better consider well ere you proceed," said Luke. "You know me of old. I have taken odds as great, and not come off the vanquished."
"The odds are even," cried t.i.tus, "if Mr. Coates will but show fight.
I"ll stand by you to the last, my dear boy. You"re the right son of your father, though on the wrong side. Och! Jack Palmer, my jewel, no wonder you resemble d.i.c.k Turpin."
"You hear this?" cried Luke.
"Hot-headed fool!" muttered Jack.
"Why don"t you shoot him on the spot?" said Wilder.
"And mar my own chance," thought Jack. "No, that will never do; his life is not to be thrown away. Be quiet," said he, in a whisper to Wilder; "I"ve another card to play, which shall serve us better than all the plunder here. No harm must come to that youngster; his life is worth thousands to us." Then, turning to Luke, he continued, "I"m loth to hurt you; yet what can I do? You must have the worst of it if we come to a pitched battle. I therefore advise you, as a friend, to draw off your forces. We are three to three, it is true; but two of _your_ party are unarmed."
"Unarmed!" interrupted t.i.tus. "Devil burn me! this iron shillelah shall convince you to the contrary, Jack, or any of your friends."
"Make ready then, my lads," cried Palmer.
"Stop a minute," exclaimed Coates. "This gets serious; it will end in homicide--in murder. We shall all have our throats cut to a certainty; and though these rascals will as certainly be hanged for it, that will be poor satisfaction to the sufferers. Had we not better refer the matter to arbitration?"
"I"m for fighting it out," said t.i.tus, whisking the poker round his head like a flail in action. "My blood"s up. Come on, Jack Palmer, I"m for you."
"I should vote for retreating," chattered the attorney, "if that cursed fellow had not placed a _ne exeat_ at the door."
"Give the word, captain," cried Rust, impatiently.
"Ay, ay," echoed Wilder.
"A skilful general always parleys," said Jack. "A word in your ear, Luke, ere that be done which cannot be undone."
"You mean me no treachery?" returned Luke.
Jack made no answer, but unc.o.c.king his pistols, deposited them within his pockets.
"Shoot him as he advances," whispered Coates; "he is in your power now."
"Scoundrel!" replied Luke, "do you think me as base as yourself?"
"Hush, hush! for G.o.d"s sake don"t expose me," said Coates.
Lady Rookwood had apparently listened to this singular conference with sullen composure, though in reality she was racked with anxiety as to its results; and, now apprehending that Palmer was about to make an immediate disclosure to Luke, she accosted him as he pa.s.sed her.
"Unbind me!" cried she, "and what you wish shall be yours--money--jewels----"
"Ha! may I depend?"
"I pledge my word."
Palmer untied the cord, and Lady Rookwood, approaching a table whereon stood the escritoire, touched a spring, and a secret drawer flew open.
"You do this of your own free will?" asked Luke. "Speak, if it be otherwise."
"I do," returned the lady, hastily.
Palmer"s eyes glistened at the treasures exposed to his view.
"They are jewels of countless price. Take them, and rid me," she added in a whisper, "of _him_."
"Luke Bradley?"
"Ay."
"Give them to me."
"They are yours freely on those terms."
"You hear that, Luke," cried he, aloud; "you hear it, t.i.tus; this is no robbery. Mr. Coates--"Know all men by these _presents_"--I call you to witness, Lady Rookwood gives me these pretty things."
"I do," returned she; adding, in a whisper, "on the terms which I proposed."
"Must it be done at once?"
"Without an instant"s delay."
"Before your own eyes?"
"I fear not to look on. Each moment is precious. He is off his guard now. You do it, you know, in self-defence."
"And you?"
"For the same cause."
"Yet he came here to aid you?"
"What of that?"
"He would have risked his life for yours?"
"I cannot pay back the obligation. He must die!"
"The doc.u.ment?"
"Will be useless then."
"Will not that suffice; why aim at life?"
"You trifle with me. You fear to do it."
"_Fear!_"