"They can have no suspicion of what is coming upon them, and therefore will have no chance to escape."
"Not a bit. We shall come upon them unawares."
"How astonished they will be."
"Yes—and how confounded when confronted with my witnesses."
"Papa, I am not malicious, but I think I should like to see their faces then."
"My dearest Claudia, you will have to imagine them. You will not be an eye-witness of their confusion. You will not be required either at the preliminary examination or at the trial, and it would not be seemly that you should appear at either."
"Oh, I know that, papa. And I am very glad that I shall not be wanted. But will the testimony of those three negroes be sufficient to convict the criminals?"
"Amply. But that testimony will not be unsupported. We shall summon the steward and housekeeper of Castle Cragg. And now, my dear, I must leave you, if the warrants are to be issued to-day," said the judge, rising.
"So soon, papa?"
"It is necessary, my dear."