"Simply because he was in company with the others. Now, you need
not ask any more questions, but if you like to get your pony saddled
and ride down with me to Reigate at eleven o'clock, I will get you
into the courthouse, and then you will hear all about it."

At greater length the Squire went into the matter with Mrs.
Cunningham, his lady housekeeper, and his ward's governess.

"It is a bad business, Mr. Thorndyke," she said, "and must be
terrible for poor Mr. Bastow."

"Yes, it is a bad business altogether, except that it will rid him
of this young rascal. If I were in his place I should be ready to
suffer a good deal to obtain such a riddance."

"I suppose that you won't sit upon the bench today?"

"No; at least I shall take no part in the deliberations. I shall,
of course, give evidence. The affair is not likely to last very long;
my story will take the longest to tell. Knapp's will be confirmatory
of mine, and the Reigate constable will depose to finding the
watches, rings, and money upon them; then, of course, the case
will be adjourned for the attendance of the coachman and some of
the passengers. I don't suppose they will be able to swear to their
identity, for no doubt they were masked. But that is immaterial;
the discovery of the stolen property upon them will be sufficient
to hang them. No doubt we shall have some Bow Streets runners down
from town tomorrow or next day, and they will most likely be able
to say who the fellows are."