"My dear Ricky," said he, *^ere are two ways of get-
ting out of a scrape : a long way and a short way. When
youVe tried the roundabout method, and failed, come to
me, and I'll show you the straight route."

Richard was too entirely bent upon the roundabout
method to consider this advice more than empty words,
and only ground his teeth at Austin's imkind refusal.
He imparted to Ripton, at the eleventh hour, that they
must do it themselves, to which Ripton heavily assented.
On the day preceding poor Tom's doomed appearance
before the magistrate. Dame Bakewell had an interview
with Austin, who went to Raynham immediately, and
sought Adrian's counsel upon what was to be done.
