"Yes. I happened to be at the Rectory. Mr. Bastow had had a quarrel
with his son, and had forbidden him the house."

The constable shook his head. "I am afraid he is a very bad one,
that young chap."

"I am afraid he is, Dawney. However, his father was afraid that he
might come in during the night and make a scene, so I said I would
stop with him, and I took our village constable with me. At two
o'clock this morning the young fellow came with two mounted men,
who, I have no doubt, were highwaymen. We had locked up down below.
Bastow took a ladder, and the three got in at a bedroom window
on the first floor. Knapp and I were waiting for them there, and,
taking them by surprise, succeeded in capturing them before the
highwaymen could use their pistols. The constable and two men are
looking after them, but as one has not got over a knock I gave him
on the head, and the other has a broken arm, there is little fear
of their making their escape. You had better go up with two of your
men, and take a light cart with you with some straw in the bottom,
and bring them all down here. I will ride round myself to Mr.
Chetwynde, Sir Charles Harris, and Mr. Merchison, and we will sit
at twelve o'clock. You can send round a constable with the usual
letters to the others, but those three will be quite enough for
the preliminary examination."

"Well, Squire, that is good news indeed. We have had the coach held
up so often within five miles of this place during the past three
months, that we have been getting quite a bad name. And to think
that young Bastow was in it! I have heard some queer stories about