“What does he want with Mr. Dick?”
“Well, what does he say?”
The man looked at his master and mistress hesitatingly, as though he would rather not speak. “He says, sir—”
“Well?”
“That he has come to arrest him—but he would like to see you first.”
“There must be some mistake. Send him in.”
A thick-set, burly, bearded man entered, hat in hand, bowed curtly to the rector, and endeavored to bow more ceremoniously to Mrs. Swinton, who stood glaring at him in fear.
“Why have you come?” asked the rector.
“Well, there’s a warrant. It has been reported he was going to skip.”