"Throw that ring out of the window and I promise to hold my tongue about any matter you don't want spoke of.

I'm not a fool--" "Nor I," was my quick reply, as I restored the ring to my pocket.

"While that remains in my possession together with certain facts concerning your habits in that old house of yours which have lately been made known to me, your life hangs by a thread I can any minute snip in two.

Mr.
Blake here, has spent some portion of a night in your house and knows how near it lies to a certain precipice, at foot of which--" "Mein Gott, father, why don't you say something!" leaped in cowed accents from the son's white lips.

"If they want us to keep quiet, let them say so and not go talking about things that--" "Now look here," interposed Mr.Gryce stepping before them with a look that closed their mouths at once.