The faithful Carter hesitated. Drawing the woman close to him, he looked her steadily in the face; apparently on the strength of what he saw there he made the plunge, moving towards the object of the discussion with the simple statement:
"You're my prisoner, my lord."
The earl eyed him; then laughed.
"Your prisoner, my good man--are you joking?"
"No, my lord, I am not joking, I must ask you to consider yourself under arrest."
"On what charge?"
The woman cried out:
"I charge him, if it comes to that! I charge him with aiding and abetting Dorothy Gilbert to escape, and also with being her accomplice--if you take him to the station, 'Gustus, you'll find that you've done right."
The earl turned to Mr Batters.
"Sergeant, will you be so good as to recommend this man to be careful what he say and does, before he has cause for serious regret."