"Hullo, Banks, what is it? No bad news, I hope?"
And he leapt from his horse, alarmed at the pallor of the old butler's face.
"Yes, Master Charles, I have some very bad news, and have been waiting for the last two hours here, so as to stop you going to the house."
"Why shouldn't I go to the house?"
"Because there are a dozen soldiers, and three or four constables there."
"And my father?"
"They have taken him away."
"This is bad news, Banks; but I know that he thought that it might be so. But it will not be very serious; it is only a question of a fine," he said.
The butler shook his head, sadly.
"It is worse than that, Master Charles. It is worse than you think."