Hutchins then read the warrant through, and Mr. Kelly surrendered. But the Messenger had not done; he picked up presently the impudence to question the Colonel.
'Your worship let the prisoner take his sword?'
The dignified Montague stared at Hutchins with a strong amazement until the fellow was quite abashed.
'What's the world coming to?' he said. 'Here is your prisoner's sword, if he is your prisoner.' and, lifting Mr. Kelly's sword from his knees, he handed it to Hutchins. Hutchins then made haste to secure Mr. Kelly's effects. He went over to the scrutoire, and the first things he clapped his eyes upon were a pile of black ashes and a great many splotches of hot grease from the candle.
Hutchins looked at the Colonel with a question upon his lips; the Colonel looked stonily at Hutchins. Hutchins raised his nose and sniffed the air.
'Will your worship tell me whether the prisoner meddled with any papers?' he asked, but with less impertinence than before.
'Yes, sir, the gentleman did.'
'What was done with them?'
'Sir, they were burned, as you may perceive.'
'And how came you, sir, to let them be burned?'