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Now, when the journey of the travelling coach, at that very

moment waiting for the completion of its load, had been planned

out last night, the difficulty of taking Miss Pross in it had

much engaged Mr. Lorry's attention. It was not merely desirable

to avoid overloading the coach, but it was of the highest

importance that the time occupied in examining it and its

passengers, should be reduced to the utmost; since their escape

might depend on the saving of only a few seconds here and there.

Finally, he had proposed, after anxious consideration, that Miss

Pross and Jerry, who were at liberty to leave the city, should

leave it at three o'clock in the lightest-wheeled conveyance

known to that period. Unencumbered with luggage, they would soon

overtake the coach, and, passing it and preceding it on the road,

would order its horses in advance, and greatly facilitate its

progress during the precious hours of the night, when delay was

the most to be dreaded.