"Caught napping—by God!"
[XXXIII]
Jeremy sent Tom Stook back to lie in Yew-Tree Wood and watch De Rothan's house. He himself snapped up a brisk breakfast, mounted his horse, and rode straight to Stonehanger.
Here he found David Barfoot in mighty perplexity and distress, and looking like an old man who had been robbed of all his savings in the night. The whole matter was a mystery to him, especially the smashed window in the parlour. He nearly danced before Jeremy, and began to shout the news at him.
"Kidnapped or murdered, sir, and me asleep like a pig!"
Winter had learned to speak so that David could understand him. It was a question of very distinct lip movements, deliberation, and the use of simple and familiar words.
"Kidnapped they have been, David, but not murdered. The Chevalier de Rothan is guilty of this."
"The tarrifying villain! He be'unt fur doing Miss Nance any wrong?"
"He had better not, David. We have got to see to that."
"God bless me—sure."