to commiserate with Farmer Blaize loudly, and make themselves look as
much like the public as it was possible for two young malefactors to
look, one of whom already felt Adrian's enormous A devouring his back
with the fierceness of the Promethean eagle, and isolating him forever
from mankind. Adrian relished their novel tactics sharply, and led them
to lengths of lamentation for Farmer Blaize. Do what they might, the
hook was in their gills. The farmer's whip had reduced them to bodily
contortions; these were decorous compared with the spiritual writhings
they had to perform under Adrian's manipulation. Ripton was fast
becoming a coward, and Richard a liar, when next morning Austin Wentworth
came over from Poer Hall bringing news that one Mr. Thomas Bakewell,
yeoman, had been arrested on suspicion of the crime of Arson and lodged
in jail, awaiting the magisterial pleasure of Sir Miles Papworth.
Austin's eye rested on Richard as he spoke these terrible tidings. The
hope of Raynham returned his look, perfectly calm, and had, moreover, the
presence of mind not to look at Ripton.




CHAPTER VI

As soon as they could escape, the boys got together into an obscure
corner of the park, and there took counsel of their extremity.

"Whatever shall we do now?" asked Ripton of his leader.

Scorpion girt with fire was never in a more terrible prison-house than
poor Ripton, around whom the raging element he had assisted to create
seemed to be drawing momently narrower circles.