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"Nor me neither," said I, for I was right down scared, and that's the fact of it.

"Shall we try again to-morrow night?" said he, and I could see he was in a hurry to be off.

"We might as well, for all the good we're doing," said I; and with that I turned to put my foot on the steps again. A moment later I saw a thing which fairly took my breath away.

The window which was dark had suddenly become light. A man with a lamp in his hand passed it, and following him with quick steps was no other than my master, Nicolas Steele.

"Good God!" said I, half aloud, in spite of myself. "What are you doing in there?" and then, as I'm a man, I began to tremble. But Jim had already turned on me.

"Bigg," cried he, "you're playing me double! What's Nicolas Steele doing in there?"

"Ask me another," said I. "It's a thing I can't tell you."

"But I can!" said he, and he was angry too. "He's gone to get Grey out and claim the money."

"Jim, shut your mouth," said I, "and don't make him out the biggest fool alive!"

"You're playing me false!" cried he, raising his voice sillily.

"No such thing," said I. "And look here—I'll prove it. I'm going in after him."

"You are!" exclaimed he. "Then I'll say 'Good-evening' to you."