“And where are these two proclamations, Bates? Have you one with you?”
“Yes, colonel,” said Bates, displaying both at once.
“Strange affair,” said Blood, biting his lips in anger, “I never heard of all this before.”
Old Bates said not a word; but he could not help but remark how Colonel Blood’s eyes flashed with anger, and, in his sleeve, he laughed.
“And so these are the two proclamations you speak of, eh?” said the colonel, unfolding and reading them. “How did you get them?”
“Captain Jack gave them to me.”
“Damn Captain Jack!” said Blood, stamping his foot in anger; “and so he has gone down to Darlington to investigate these affairs, eh?”
“Yes, that was his intention. He said he made sure of finding out who it was who not only attempted to murder Andrew, but who abducted the girl also.”
“Ha! then he is very clever,” said the colonel.
After a pause, he added—