"But you were mistaken.

I have not been altogether willing to trust myself in your hands, without good advice from a limb of the law quite as shrewd as yourself." "What do you mean ?" exclaimed Grind, somewhat startled by so unexpected a declaration.
"Plainly," was answered, "while I took your advice as to the surest way to act upon Jasper, I consulted another as to the means of protecting myself from you, if matters ever came to a pinch." "Oh! Preposterous!" Grind forced a laugh.

"That's only an afterthought." "Is it.

Hark!" Martin bent close to his ear, and uttered a few words in an undertone.

Grind started as if stung by a serpent.
"Wretch!" "It is useless to call ill names, my friend.