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Forty Thieves。'
'Now Rowley； let's be cool； let's be businesslike；' said I。
'Riches are deceitful； particularly when you haven't counted them；
and the first thing we have to do is to arrive at the amount of my
… let me say； modest competency。 If I'm not mistaken； I have
enough here to keep you in gold buttons all the rest of your life。
You collect the gold； and I'll take the paper。'
Accordingly； down we sat together on the hearthrug； and for some
time there was no sound but the creasing of bills and the jingling
of guineas； broken occasionally by the exulting exclamations of
Rowley。 The arithmetical operation on which we were embarked took
long； and it might have been tedious to others； not to me nor to my
helper。
'Ten thousand pounds！' I announced at last。
'Ten thousand！' echoed Mr。 Rowley。
And we gazed upon each other。
The greatness of this fortune took my breath away。 With that sum
in my hands； I need fear no enemies。 People are arrested； in nine
cases out of ten； not because the police are astute； but because
they themselves run short of money； and I had here before me in the
despatch…box a succession of devices and disguises that insured my
liberty。 Not only so； but； as I felt with a sudden and
overpowering thrill； with ten thousand pounds in my hands I was
become an eligible suitor。 What advances I had made in the past；
as a private soldier in a military prison； or a fugitive by the
wayside； could only be qualified or； indeed； excused as acts of
desperation。 And now； I might come in by the front door； I might
approach the dragon with a lawyer at my elbow； and rich settlements
to offer。 The poor French prisoner； Champdivers； might be in a
perpetual danger of arrest； but the rich travelling Englishman；
St。…Ives； in his post…chaise； with his despatch…box by his side；
could smile at fate and laugh at locksmiths。 I repeated the
proverb； exulting； LOVE LAUGHS AT LOCKSMITHS！ In a moment； by the
mere coming of this money； my love had become possible … it had
come near； it was under my hand … and it may be by one of the
curiosities of human nature； but it burned that instant brighter。
'Rowley；' said I； 'your Viscount is a made man。'
'Why； we both are； sir；' said Rowley。
'Yes； both；' said I； 'and you shall dance at the wedding；' and I
flung at his head a bundle of bank notes； and had just followed it
up with a handful of guineas； when the door opened； and Mr。 Romaine
appeared upon the threshold。
CHAPTER XVIII … MR。 ROMAINE CALLS ME NAMES
FEELING very much of a fool to be thus taken by surprise； I
scrambled to my feet and hastened to make my visitor welcome。 He
did not refuse me his hand； but he gave it with a coldness and
distance for which I was quite unprepared； and his countenance； as
he looked on me； was marked in a strong degree with concern and
severity。
'So； sir； I find you here？' said he； in tones of little
encouragement。 'Is that you； George？ You can run away； I have
business with your master。'
He showed Rowley out； and locked the door behind him。 Then he sat
down in an armchair on one side of the fire； and looked at me with
uncompromising sternness。
'I am hesitating how to begin；' said he。 'In this singular
labyrinth of blunders and difficulties that you have prepared for
us； I am positively hesitating where to begin。 It will perhaps be
best that you should read； first of all； this paragraph。' And he
handed over to me a newspaper。
The paragraph in question was brief。 It announced the recapture of
one of the prisoners recently escaped from Edinburgh Castle； gave
his name； Clausel； and added that he had entered into the
particulars of the recent revolting murder in the Castle； and
denounced the murderer：…
'It is a common soldier called Champdivers； who had himself
escaped； and is in all probability involved in the common fate of
his comrades。 In spite of the activity along all the Forth and the
East Coast； nothing has yet been seen of the sloop which these
desperadoes seized at Grangemouth； and it is now almost certain
that they have found a watery grave。'
At the reading of this paragraph； my heart turned over。 In a
moment I saw my castle in the air ruined； myself changed from a
mere military fugitive into a hunted murderer； fleeing from the
gallows； my love； which had a moment since appeared so near to me；
blotted from the field of possibility。 Despair； which was my first
sentiment； did not； however； endure for more than a moment。 I saw
that my companions had indeed succeeded in their unlikely design；
and that I was supposed to have accompanied and perished along with
them by shipwreck … a most probable ending to their enterprise。 If
they thought me at the bottom of the North Sea； I need not fear
much vigilance on the streets of Edinburgh。 Champdivers was
wanted： what was to connect him with St。 Ives？ Major Chevenix
would recognise me if he met me； that was beyond bargaining： he had
seen me so often； his interest had been kindled to so high a point；
that I could hope to deceive him by no stratagem of disguise。
Well； even so； he would have a competition of testimony before him：
he knew Clausel； he knew me； and I was sure he would decide for
honour。 At the same time the image of Flora shot up in my mind's
eye with such a radiancy as fairly overwhelmed all other
considerations； the blood sprang to every corner of my body； and I
vowed I would see and win her； if it cost my neck。
'Very annoying； no doubt；' said I； as I returned the paper to Mr。
Romaine。
'Is annoying your word for it？' said he。
'Exasperating； if you like；' I admitted。
'And true？' he inquired。
'Well； true in a sense；' said I。 'But perhaps I had better answer
that question by putting you in possession of the facts？'
'I think so； indeed；' said he。
I narrated to him as much as seemed necessary of the quarrel； the
duel； the death of Goguelat； and the character of Clausel。 He
heard me through in a forbidding silence； nor did he at all betray
the nature of his sentiments； except that； at the episode of the
scissors； I could observe his mulberry face to turn three shades
paler。
'I suppose I may believe you？' said he； when I had done。
'Or else conclude this interview；' said I。
'Can you not understand that we are here discussing matters of the
gravest import？ Can you not understand that I feel myself weighed
with a load of responsibility on your account … that you should
take this occasion to air your fire…eating manners against your own
attorney？ There are serious hours in life； Mr。 Anne；' he said
severely。 'A capital charge； and that of a very brutal character
and with singularly unpleasant details； the presence of the man
Clausel； who （according to your account of it） is actuated by