court. I shall hear down in the town tomorrow morning what coach
has been stopped, and I have no doubt that they have on them the
proceeds of the robbery. Your son was consorting with and aiding
them, and acting as a receiver of stolen goods, and as you have heard
horses here before it is probable that when his room is thoroughly
searched we shall come upon a number of articles of the same sort.
I am sorry that I ever meddled in the matter; but it is too late
for that now. You had better come downstairs with me, and we will
take a turn in the garden, and try to see what had best be done."



CHAPTER III.


John Thorndyke opened the shutters of the parlor window, and
stepped out into the garden alone, for the Rector was too unnerved
and shattered to go out with him, but threw himself on the sofa,
completely prostrated. Half an hour later the Squire re-entered the
room. The morning was just beginning to break. Mr. Bastow raised
his head and looked sadly at him.

"I can see no way out of it, old friend. Were it not that he is in
charge of the constable, I should have said that your only course
was to aid your son to escape; but Knapp is a shrewd fellow as well
as an honest one. You cannot possibly get your son away without
his assistance, for he is handcuffed to the bed, and Knapp, in so
serious a matter as this, would not, I am sure, lend himself to
an escape. I have no doubt that with my influence with the other
magistrates, and, indeed, on the circumstances of the case, they