"There is one thing, Mr. Thorndyke, that I have not told you," the
Rector said hesitatingly. "Sometimes, when he comes home late, he
brings someone with him; I have heard voices downstairs. I have
never seen who it was--for what could I have done if I went down?
--but I have heard horses brought round to the stable yard, and
heard them ride away:"

"It is just as well you told me," the Squire said dryly. "If you
had told me this evening at the house, I would have dropped a brace
of pistols into my pocket. However, this hunting crop is a good
weapon; but I don't suppose they will show fight, even if anyone
is with him. Besides, Knapp has a stout oaken cudgel with him--
I noticed it standing against his chair as I went in--and as he
is a strong active fellow, and we shall have the advantage of a
surprise, I fancy we should be a match even for three or four of
them."

At one o'clock the Squire roused John Knapp. "It is one o'clock,
John; now take off your boots. I don't want him to know that there
is anyone in the house till we get hold of him. I am going to lie
down on the sofa in the parlor. The moment you hear footsteps you
come and wake me."

The clock in the kitchen had just struck two when the constable
shook John Thorndyke. "There are two horses just coming into the
yard."

"All right. I opened a window in the room looking down into the
yard before I lay down. I will go up and see what they are going