"Well, I can say this much: I was only hired for this work—I and Toglet."
"Who by?"
"Squire Paget, of Westville."
Had a bombshell exploded at Ralph's feet he would have been no more astonished than at this declaration.
"Do you mean to say Squire Paget hired you for this work?" he demanded.
"Yes, I do. The whole scheme was his."
"But what was his object?"
"He wanted to get you out of the way."
"But why?"
"He didn't tell me why, but I reckon it was on account of some valuable Westville property."