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Page 373

| "You were caught and placed in prison," she said. "You said that was where you became acquainted with Stanford Sidwell." |

| "And so I did," Ashton said, dropping his hands to his sides. He took Sasha by the elbow and began walking her around the smouldering ruins of their cabin. "It's like this, Sasha. I discovered a chest of coins and jewels stashed away in Superintendent Howland's house. It had been stolen from the government and the people of Australia. I took the chest and fled, wounding Howland in the process." |

| "And then what happened?" Sasha asked, attentive to his intriguing tale, discovering that he was even more wonderful than she had until now thought him to be. |

| "I did not achieve my goals that day," Ashton went on. "The superintendent's men were loyal to him, not to the government. But luck was partially with me. I had time to hide the loot before being captured." |

| A saddlebag slung across his arm, a shovel in his right hand, Crispin stepped up to Ashton and Sasha. He rested his free hand on a holstered pistol as he walked with them around the property while Ashton explained about that day when he had tried to become Melbourne's hero, only to be scorned and sent to prison for his deed. |

| "And Ashton, who was then known as Lawrence Proffitt to all who knew him, spent time in prison while I looked for a way to win his release," Crispin added. "But all of my efforts were futile. It seems that I was as scorned by everyone as Ashton, except that I did not have to spend time in prison. The day Ashton was arrested, he was working alone." |

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