"You are to come in. They will take some little time over the papers, and there is plenty of good wine for you to amuse yourselves with."
With an exclamation of satisfaction, the two men entered.
"It is very dark in here," one said, as Leigh closed the door. "Why didn't you get a light?"
The words were scarcely spoken when there was a rush, a sudden exclamation, the sound of a short struggle, and then silence.
"Keep hold of them tightly, while I fetch a candle," Leigh said and, running upstairs, soon came down with the light.
The two guards were standing helpless in the hands of their captors, and gripped so tightly that they were unable to utter the least sound.
"Now, put the gags into their mouths and truss them up, as you did the others."
Leaving the men to carry out his orders, he ran upstairs again.
"Everything is arranged now," he said. "The whole of the fellows are bound, and the road is free for you. I should go out by the back way, for there is sure to be a little crowd in front of the house, attracted by the sight of the guard standing outside. I do not think that there is any extraordinary hurry, but in an hour or so, if either of the men who have ordered your arrest is waiting at the prison, he may get impatient, and send down to see what detains the party here.
"I am going, in the first place, to have the servants bound, so that they may not be suspected of having aided in this business. As soon as that is done, I shall hasten to my lodging and bring my sister and the child to the inn where you have your carriage. Of course, you will have the horses put in as soon as you get there. I shall not be very long behind you, as I shall take the first fiacre and drive down to that end of the town, and then discharge him. As I am not in any way associated with you, even if inquiries are made, our movements will throw no light upon yours."