THE NORTH COACH 309

it will be hard if I don’t manage to learn something of what
they are saying.”

The plan was carried out, and Charlie, getting close up
to the window, threw a stone through one of the lowest of
the little diamond-shaped panes. He heard a loud exclama-
tion of anger inside, and then sprang away and hid himself
at the other end of the garden. A moment later he heard
loud talking in the road, and a man with a lantern came
round to the window, but in a few minutes all was quiet
again, and Charlie cautiously made his way back to the
window and crouched beneath it. He could hear plainly
enough now the talk going on within.

“What was I saying when that confounded stone inter-
rupted us?”

“You were saying, captain, that you intended to have
a week in London, and then to stop the North coach.”

“Yes, I have done well lately, and can afford a week’s
pleasure. Besides, Jerry Skinlow got a bullet in his shoul-
der last week in trying to stop a carriage on his own
account, and Jack Mercer’s mare is laid up lame, and it
wants four to stop a coach neatly. Jack Ponsford is in
town, I shall bring him out with me.”

“T heard that you were out of luck a short time ago.”

“Yes, everything seemed against me. My horse was
shot, and just at the time I had been having a bad run at
the tables and had lost my last stiver. 1 was in hiding for
a fortnight at cne of the cribs; for they had got a descrip-
tion of me from an old gentleman, who with his wife and
daughter I had eased of their money and watches. It was
a stupid business. I dropped a valuable diamond ring
on the ground, and in groping about for it my mask came
off, and like a fool I stood up in the full light of the car-
riage-lamp. So I thought it better for all reasons to get
away for a month or so until things quieted down. I wanted
to visit my banker, and it was a good many miles to
tramp.”