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before he gets out of the church…yard。 Have you got your cudgel？〃
Thomas Wildfang held up his cudgel。 Turlington took him by the arm；
and felt it suspiciously。
〃You have had an attack of the horrors already；〃 he said。 〃What does
this trembling mean？〃
He took a spirit…flask from his pocket as he spoke。 Thomas Wildfang
snatched it out of his hand； and emptied it at a draught。 〃All right now；
master；〃 he said。 Turlington felt his arm once more。 It was steadier already。
Wildfang brandished his cudgel； and struck a heavy blow with it on one of
the turf mounds near them。 〃Will that drop him； captain？〃 he asked。
Turlington went on with his instructions。
〃Rob him when you have dropped him。 Take his money and his
jewelry。 I want to have the killing of him attributed to robbery as the
motive。 Make sure before you leave him that he is dead。 Then go to the
malt…house。 There is no fear of your being seen； all the people will be
indoors； keeping Christmas…eve。 You will find a change of clothes hidden
in the malt…house； and an old caldron full of quicklime。 Destroy the
clothes you have got on； and dress yourself in the other clothes that you
find。 Follow the cross…road； and when it brings you into the highroad； turn
to the left； a four…mile walk will take you to the town of Harminster。 Sleep
there to…night； and travel to London by the train in the morning。 The next
day go to my office； see the head clerk； and say； 'I have come to sign my
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receipt。' Sign it in your own name； and you will receive your hundred
pounds。 There are your instructions。 Do you understand them？〃
Wildfang nodded his head in silent token that he understood； and
disappeared again among the graves。 Turlington went back to the house。
He had advanced midway across the garden； when he was startled by
the sound of footsteps in the laneat that part of it which skirted one of the
corners of the house。 Hastening forward； he placed himself behind a
projection in the wall； so as to see the person pass across the stream of
light from the uncovered window of the room that he had left。 The
stranger was walking rapidly。 All Turlington could see as he crossed the
field of light was； that his hat was pulled over his eyes； and that he had a
thick beard and mustache。 Describing the man to the servant on entering
the house； he was informed that a stranger with a large beard had been
seen about the neighborhood for some days past。 The account he had
given of himself stated that he was a surveyor； engaged in taking
measurements for a new map of that part of the country； shortly to be
published。
The guilty mind of Turlington was far from feeling satisfied with the
meager description of the stranger thus rendered。 He could not be engaged
in surveying in the dark。 What could he want in the desolate neighborhood
of the house and church…yard at that time of night？
The man wantedwhat the man found a little lower down the lane；
hidden in a dismantled part of the church…yard walla letter from a young
lady。 Read by the light of the pocket…lantern which he carried with him；
the letter first congratulated this person on the complete success of his
disguiseand then promised that the writer would be ready at her bedroom
window for flight the next morning； before the house was astir。 The
signature was 〃Natalie；〃 and the person addressed was 〃Dearest Launce。〃
In the meanwhile； Turlington barred the window shutters of the room；
and looked at his watch。 It wanted only a quarter to nine o'clock。 He took
his dog…whistle from the chimney…piece； and turned his steps at once in the
direction of the drawing…room； in which his guests were passing the
evening。
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TWELFTH SCENE。
Inside the House。
The scene in the drawing…room represented the ideal of domestic
comfort。 The fire of wood and coal mixed burned brightly； the lamps shed
a soft glow of light； the solid shutters and the thick red curtains kept the
cold night air on the outer side of two long windows； which opened on the
back garden。 Snug arm…chairs were placed in every part of the room。 In
one of them Sir Joseph reclined； fast asleep； in another； Miss Lavinia sat
knitting； a third chair； apart from the rest； near a round table in one corner
of the room； was occupied by Natalie。 Her head was resting on her hand；
an unread book lay open on her lap。 She looked pale and harassed； anxiety
and suspense had worn her down to the shadow of her former self。 On
entering the room； Turlington purposely closed the door with a bang。
Natalie started。 Miss Lavinia looked up reproachfully。 The object was
achievedSir Joseph was roused from his sleep。
〃If you are going to the vicar's to…night。 Graybrooke；〃 said Turlington；
〃it's time you were off； isn't it？〃
Sir Joseph rubbed his eyes； and looked at the clock on the mantel…
piece。 〃Yes； yes； Richard；〃 he answered； drowsily； 〃I suppose I must go。
Where is my hat？〃
His sister and his daughter both joined in trying to persuade him to
send an excuse instead of groping his way to the vicarage in the dark。 Sir
Joseph hesitated； as usual。 He and the vicar had run up a sudden friendship；
on the strength of their common enthusiasm for the old…fashioned game of
backgammon。 Victorious over his opponent on the previous evening at
Turlington's house； Sir Joseph had promised to pass that evening at the
vicarage； and give the vicar his revenge。 Observing his indecision；
Turlington cunningly irritated him by affecting to believe that he was
really unwilling to venture out in the dark。 〃I'll see you safe across the
churchyard；〃 he said； 〃and the vicar's servant will see you safe back。〃 The
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tone in which he spoke instantly roused Sir Joseph。 〃I am not