as that, I think?«
    »He did not,« returned the locksmith, »for she had bound him by some pledge,
known only to these people, and which the worst among them respect, not to tell
your name: but, in a fantastic pattern on the stick, he had carved some letters,
and when the hangman asked it, he bade him, especially if he should ever meet
with her son in after life, remember that place well.«
    »What place?«
    »Chester.«
    The knight finished his cup of chocolate with an appearance of infinite
relish, and carefully wiped his lips upon his handkerchief.
    »Sir John,« said the locksmith, »this is all that has been told to me; but
since these two men have been left for death, they have conferred together
closely. See them, and hear what they can add. See this Dennis, and learn from
him what he has not trusted to me. If you, who hold the clue to all, want
corroboration (which you do not), the means are easy.«
    »And to what,« said Sir John Chester, rising on his elbow, after smoothing
the pillow for its reception; »my dear, good-natured, estimable Mr. Varden -
with whom I cannot be angry if I would - to what does all this tend?«
    »I take you for a man, Sir John, and I suppose it tends to some pleading of
natural affection in your breast,« returned the locksmith. »I suppose to the
straining of every nerve, and the exertion of all the influence you have, or can
make, in behalf of your miserable son, and the man who has disclosed his
existence to you. At the worst, I suppose to your seeing your son, and awakening
him to a sense of his crime and danger. He has no such sense now. Think what his
life must have been, when he said in my hearing, that if I moved you to
anything, it would be to hastening his death, and ensuring his silence, if you
had it in your power!«
    »And have you, my good Mr. Varden,« said Sir John in a tone of mild reproof,
»have you really lived to your present age, and remained so very simple and
credulous, as to approach a gentleman of established character with such
credentials as these, from desperate men in their last extremity, catching at
any straw? Oh dear! Oh fie, fie!«
    The locksmith was going to interpose,