"You have been warning the guilty to escape!" said Sir Matthew.
"You have been helping the lion to fly from his pursuers!" said Sir Thomas.
"You have been proditoriously giving information of our secret councils!" said Sir Matthew.
"It is being an accessary after the fact!" said his companion.
"It is misprision of treason!" said the other.
"It is levying war against the king!" shouted Sir Thomas.
"It is a gaol delivery!" cried the head constable, determined not to be outdone by his betters.
"Haw, haw, haw.'" exclaimed Gregory Myrtle, laying his two hands upon his fat stomach, "What is the matter with your worships?"'
"Hast thou not gone down on purpose," said Sir Matthew Scrope, "to warn Harry Langford, alias Captain Langford, alias Master Harry, to evade and escape the pursuit of justice, by flying out of the back door while we are approaching the front? Hast thou not done this, Gregory Myrtle? and woe be unto thee if he have so escaped! Take him into custody, I say!"
"Well, your worships," said Myrtle, beginning to look a little rueful under the hands of the constables. "I have been down to Master Harry, I own it; but I went upon other business that I had to do with him. Does not everybody know that I had a packet down for him by a special messenger yesterday night, with orders to deliver it into his own hands? and if I did talk with him this morning of what was going on, did he not send his compliments to your worships, and bid me say that he would be up with you in five minutes, as soon as he had got his clothes on!"