se words； 'You have robbed me of the last vein of our old mine'？〃
〃Ah！ there it is；〃 replied Simon； 〃for a long time it had been a fancy of his……I told you his mind was deranged…… that he had a right to the mine of Aberfoyle； so he became more and more savage in temper the deeper the Dochart pit…… his pit！……was worked out。 It just seemed as if it was his own body that suffered from every blow of the pickax。 You must remember that； Madge？〃
〃Ay； that I do； Simon；〃 replied she。
〃I can recollect all this；〃 resumed Simon； 〃since I have seen the name of Silfax on the door。 But I tell you； I thought the man was dead； and never imagined that the spiteful being we have so long sought for could be the old fireman of the Dochart pit。〃
〃Well； now； then；〃 said Starr； 〃it is all quite plain。 Chance made known to Silfax the new vein of coal。 With the egotism of madness； he believed himself the owner of a treasure he must conceal and defend。 Living in the mine； and wandering about day and night； he perceived that you had discovered the secret； and had written in all haste to beg me to e。 Hence the letter contradicting yours； hence； after my arrival； all the accidents that occurred； such as the block of stone thrown at Harry； the broken ladder at the Yarrow shaft； the obstruction of the openings into the wall of the new cutting； hence； in short； our imprisonment； and then our deliverance； brought about by the kind assistance of Nell； who acted of course without the knowledge of this man Silfax； and contrary to his intentions。〃
〃You describe everything exactly as it must have happened； Mr。 Starr；〃 returned old Simon。 〃The old 'Monk' is mad enough now； at any rate！〃
〃All the better；〃 quoth Madge。
〃I don't know that；〃 said Starr； shaking