In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase. He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them. Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes. When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him. There was a menacing expression on his face.
"Where have you been?" he demanded, abruptly.
"Downstairs," answered Jack.
"Ha! What did you see?"
"I may as well own up," thought Jack. "Through a crack I saw some men at work in a basement room," he replied.
"Do you know what they were doing?"
"Counterfeiting, I should think."
"Well, is there anything wrong in that?"
"I suppose you wouldn't want to be found out," he answered.
"I didn't mean to have you make this discovery. Now there's only one thing to be done."
"What's that?"
"You have become possessed of an important--I may say, a dangerous secret. You have us in your power."
"I suppose," said Jack, "you are afraid I will denounce you to the police?"
"Well, there is a possibility of that. That class of people has a prejudice against us, though we are only doing what everybody likes to do--making money."
"Will you let me go if I keep your secret?"
"What assurance have we that you would keep your promise?"
"I would pledge my word."
"Your word!" Foley--for this was the old man's real name--snapped his fingers. "I wouldn't give that for it. That is not sufficient."
"What will be?"
"You must become one of us."
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