"Pardon me, no," replied Castleleathers blandly, "here I have a pardon for Rob signed by the Duke himsel'."
"It's a forgery," cried Strange hotly, "let me see it."
"In my hands, Captain Strange—no, stand back a wee—hold the light higher, now can ye see? Will you dispute that, my man? There is his royal signature, bless him!"
Strange eyed it gloomily.
"There is something queer about this," he said. "I will see the Duke."
Castleleathers smiled.
"All the way to London?" he asked. "The Duke will not thank ye."
Over their heads the haunted chains jingled merrily. It must have been a rare joke to send them clinking like that. Suddenly from the ends of nowhere there was a sound like a smothered laugh.
"What was that?" whispered Strange, looking furtively about.
"I heard nothing," replied Castleleathers, then starting to his feet, "but surely there is the noise of a horse."