"Devil!" exclaimed the knight fiercely, "Give me the paper."
Jonathan hastily picked up the pen, and presented it to Trenchard, who attached his signature to the document.
"If I am the devil," observed Wild, "as some folks assert, and I myself am not unwilling to believe, you'll find that I differ from the generally-received notions of the arch-fiend, and faithfully execute the commands of those who confide their souls to my custody."
"Take hence this boy, then," rejoined Trenchard; "his looks unman me."
"Of what am I accused?" asked Thames, who though a good deal alarmed at first, had now regained his courage.
"Of robbery!" replied Jonathan in a thundering voice, and suddenly confronting him. "You've charged with assisting your comrade, Jack Sheppard, to purloin certain articles of value from a jewel-case belonging to Lady Trafford. Aha!" he continued, producing a short silver staff, which he carried constantly about with him, and uttering a terrible imprecation, "I see you're confounded. Down on your marrow-bones, sirrah! Confess your guilt, and Sir Rowland may yet save you from the gallows."
"I've nothing to confess," replied Thames, boldly; "I've done no wrong. Are you my accuser?"
"I am," replied Wild; "have you anything to allege to the contrary?"
"Only this," returned Thames: "that the charge is false, and malicious, and that you know it to be so."
"Is that all!" retorted Jonathan. "Come, I must search you my youngster!"