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e seen Billy; go and look at thy shilling; in the yard; and see which is brightest; it or the moon。 Is he gone? I've seen three men die within a few yards of me。 One; the stone flew in two pieces; a fragment; weighing about four hundredweight I should say; struck him on the breast; and killed him on place; he never spoke。 I've forgotten his very name。 Another; the stone went clean out of window; but it kicked the grinder backward among the machinery; and his head was crushed like an eggshell。 But the worst of all was poor Billy's father。 He had been warned against his stone; but he said he would run it out。 Well; his little boy; that is Billy; had just brought him in his tea; and was standing beside him; when the stone went like a pistol…shot; and snapped the horsing chains like a thread; a piece struck the wall; and did no harm; only made a hole; but the bigger half went clean up to the ceiling; and then fell plump down again; the grinder he was knocked stupid like; and had fallen forward on his broken horsing; the grindstone fell right on him; and; ahI saw the son covered with the father's blood。〃
He shuddered visibly; at the recollection。 〃Ay;〃 said he; 〃the man a corpse; and the lad an idiot。 One faulty stone did that; within four yards of me; in a moment of time。〃
〃Good heavens!〃
〃I was grinding at the next stone but one。 He was taken; and I was left。 It might just as well have been the other way。 No saw… grinder can make sure; when he gets on his horsing; that he will come off it alive。〃
The visitor left Henry to think of this while he drew Bayne aside; and spoke on another matter。
Afterward; all three left the works together; and Henry was so pleased with his new ally; that he told him; at the gate; he should be glad if he might be allowed to make his acquaintance。
〃By all means;〃 said the other。 〃I am quite at your service。 You will find me at the 'Cutlers' Arms。'〃
〃Who shall I ask for?〃
〃George Grotait。〃
〃Grotait。 The devil!〃
〃No; no。 Not quite so bad as that。〃
〃What;〃 said Henry; roughly; 〃do you mean to say you are old Smitem?〃
〃That is a name FOOLS give me。〃
Henry had no reply ready; and so the sturdy old secretary got the better of him again; and went his way unruffled。
Henry scolded Bayne for not telling him。 Bayne excused himself on the ground that he thought everybody knew Grotait。 He added; 〃He knew you; and told me if he could serve you; without being unjust to the Trades; I was to tell him。〃
Henry replied to this only by a snort of defiance; and bade him good…night。
The next day and the next were spent in other works; and then Henry; having no more facts to learn; fell into deep dejection again。 He saw he must either cheat Dr。 Amboyne; by shamming work; or else must leave Hillsborough。
He had the honesty to go to the doctor and say that he had mastered the whole matter; and didn't see his way to take any more wages from a friend。
〃You mean you have mastered the broad facts。〃
〃I have; sir; and they are beyond belief; especially the file… cutters。 They are the most numerous of all the Trades; and die like sheep。 If your notion about Life; Labor; and Capital is right; the Trades are upside down; for the deadliest are the worst paid。〃
〃And are you prepared with the remedies?〃
〃Not I。〃
〃Yet you fancy you are at the end of your work。 Why; you are only beginning。 Now comes the real brain work; invention。 Now are craniology and you upon your trial。 But you are quite right about weekly salary。 Invention must not be so degraded; but paid by the piece。 Life; Labor; and Capital are upside down in this place; are they? Then you shall be the man to set them on their legs。〃
Henry shook his head。 〃Never; sir; unless I could give the masters bowels; and the men brains。〃
〃Well; and why not? To invention all things are possible。 You carry a note…book?〃
〃Yes; sir。〃
〃Got it in your pocket?〃
〃No; on my shoulders。〃
〃Haw! haw! haw! Then write this down in it'THERE'S A KEY TO EVERY LOCK'〃
〃It's down; sir。〃
〃Now you must go out trout…fishing with Billy。 He will take you on the hills; where the air is pure; and favorable to invention。 You will divert your mind from all external subjects; especially Billy; who is a fool; and his trout…killing inhumane; and I a merciless glutton for eating them; and you will think; and think; and think; and forge the required key to this lock with three wardsLife; Labor; Capital。 And; when forged; the Philanthropic Society shall pay you a good price for it。 Meantime; don't dream of leaving Hillsborough; or I shall give you a stirrup…cup that will waft you much further than London; for it shall be 'of prussic acid all composed;' or 'juice of cursed Hebenon in a vial。' Come; away with you。〃
〃Good…by; doctor。 God bless you。 You have found 'the key to my heart' somehow。 I come to you a miserable broken…hearted dog; and you put life and hope into me directly。 I declare talking with you it's like drinking sunshine。 I'll try all I know to please you。〃
He went down the street with his old elastic tread; and muttered to himself; 〃There's no lock without a key。〃
Next day he went out on the hills with Billy; and saw him tickle trout; and catch them under stones; and do many strange things; and all the time he thought of Grace Carden; and bemoaned his sad fate。 He could not command his mind; and direct it to philanthropy。 His heart would not let him; and his personal wrongs were too recent。 After a short struggle; these got so thoroughly the better; that he found himself stealing the doctor's words for his own purposes。 〃No lock without a key。〃 Then there must be some way of outwitting these cursed Trades; and so making money enough to set up as a master; and then court her; and woo her; and marry her。 Heaven seemed to open on him at this prospect; and he fell into a deep reverie。 By…and…by; as he pondered; it seemed to him as if the shadow of a coming idea was projected in advance of the idea itself。 He knew somehow there was a way to baffle his enemies; and resume his business; and yet he could not see the way; but still he was absolutely conscious it existed。
This conviction took such hold of him; that he became restless; and asked Billy to leave off and come away。 The youth consented; and they returned to the town with a basket of trout。 Henry sent Billy on to the doctor with half of them; and took the other half to his friend Bayne。
On what a trifle things turn。 Bayne was very much pleased with his little attention; and asked him to take them to his lodging; and beg the landlady to cook them for dinner。 〃Tell her you dine with me; old fellow。〃
〃Oh; hang it; I wasn't fishing for a dinner。〃
〃As if I didn't know that。 But you must。 Then I shall enjoy your company in peace。 I shall be there in an hour。〃
And so he was: but in that one hour events had occurred that I shall leave Mr。 Bayne to relate。
During dinner neither of the friends wasted much time in talk; but after dinner; Bayne produced a bottle of port; notwithstanding Henry's remonstrances at being treated like a stranger; and it soon became apparent that the host himself was not in the habit