“As usual, Mark, rumor has exaggerated matters. There are no dead men; one certainly got a crack on the head that rendered him insensible for some time, and another's arm is broken.”
“And are they highwaymen, father? They say that two horses were fastened behind the cart.”
“That is what we are going to try, Mark. Until their guilt is proved, no one knows whether they are highwaymen or not.”
“And why is Arthur Bastow taken, father?”
“Simply because he was in company with the others. Now, you need not ask any more questions, but if you like to get your pony saddled and ride down with me to Reigate at eleven o'clock, I will get you into the courthouse, and then you will hear all about it.”
At greater length the Squire went into the matter with Mrs. Cunningham, his lady housekeeper, and his ward's governess.
“It is a bad business, Mr. Thorndyke,” she said, “and must be terrible for poor Mr. Bastow.”
“Yes, it is a bad business altogether, except that it will rid him of this young rascal. If I were in his place I should be ready to suffer a good deal to obtain such a riddance.”
“I suppose that you won't sit upon the bench today?”
“No; at least I shall take no part in the deliberations. I shall, of course, give evidence. The affair is not likely to last very long; my story will take the longest to tell. Knapp's will be confirmatory of mine, and the Reigate constable will depose to finding the watches, rings, and money upon them; then, of course, the case will be adjourned for the attendance of the coachman and some of the passengers. I don't suppose they will be able to swear to their identity, for no doubt they were masked. But that is immaterial; the discovery of the stolen property upon them will be sufficient to hang them. No doubt we shall have some Bow Streets runners down from town tomorrow or next day, and they will most likely be able to say who the fellows are.”