"Axe Squire if I can have speech with him, Reuby," he said.
Mr. Trevanion came out into the hall.
"Well, what's this, Joe?" he asked.
"I catched this young reptile a-meddlin' wi' Maister Dick's lines, Squire," said Penwarden, "so I brought him up to be dealt with according to law."
"Meddling with his lines, indeed!" cried the Squire in surprise. "Why should he do that? What have you to say for yourself, rascal?"
Jake had nothing to say for himself, but stood with a sullen glower upon his face.
"'Tis not the first time either, Squire, and I be mazed as you didn' know it," Penwarden continued.
"I knew nothing about it. Dick," he called into the room, "come here."
Dick obeyed reluctantly.
"Penwarden tells me," said his father, "that your lines have been tampered with. Is that true?"