My idea is that the best plan will be to bind and gag him first, then we can hold a little court over him, and let him know what is coming.

An hour later, when the place gets a bit quiet, we can carry him down to the river--it is not above fifty yards away--tie a heavy weight round his neck, cut his cords the last thing, and chuck him over; if his body is found, it will be thought it is that of some chap tired of life who took pains to drown himself pretty quickly, and there won't be any fuss over him, and there will be nothing to come upon any of you fellows for." There was a general murmur of assent.

Several of those present had already committed themselves to some extent with the supposed hawker, and were as eager as Flash himself that he should be killed; still, all felt that it was as well that it should be managed with the least possible risk of discovery, for while an ordinary man could be put out of the way without any trouble arising, the fact that he was a Bow Street runner added enormously to the risk of the discovery of his fate.
There was a little talk, and then two of the men went out and brought back a couple of strong ropes.

A few minutes after their return Mark Thorndyke came in.

He paused as he entered the room, in surprise at the silence that reigned, for he was accustomed to be greeted with friendly exclamations.