constable."

"Yes, sir; I left one of my men up there with instructions to allow
no one to go upstairs until I returned."

"Quite right."

John Thorndyke was the next witness, and his evidence cleared up
what had hitherto been a mystery to the general body of the public,
as to how he and the constable happened to be in the house on
watch when the highwaymen arrived. The most important part of his
evidence was the repetition of the words young Bastow had used as
he mounted the ladder, as they showed that it was arranged between
the prisoners that the stolen goods should be hidden in the house.
The Squire was only asked one or two questions.

"I suppose, Mr. Thorndyke, that you had no idea whatever that the
younger prisoner would be accompanied by anyone else when he returned
home?"

"Not the slightest," the Squire replied. "I was there simply to
prevent this unfortunate lad from entering the house, when perhaps
he might have used violence towards his father. My intention was
to seize him if he did so, and to give him the choice of enlisting,
as I had urged him to do, or of being brought before this bench for
breaking into his father's house. I felt that anything was better
than his continuing in the evil courses on which he seemed bent."

"Thank you, Mr. Thorndyke. I must compliment you in the name of my
brother magistrates, and I may say of the public, for the manner