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His first thought was to attend the races for a time, but seeing the number of people there, and his own ignorance of Bastow's appearance, he abandoned the idea, and determined to try a slower but more methodical plan. After coming to that conclusion he put on his hat and made his way to Mrs. Cunningham's. "Well, Mr. Constable," Millicent said saucily, as he entered, "any fresh captures?"
Greg can come over too," he added, turning to the Rector; "you will be much interested also in the matter." The next day the party met in the library at the hour named. "I may tell you, Mr. Greg, that I specially asked you and your wife here because this letter throws some light on Arthur Bastow's connection with my father's murder; you were friends with his father, and I think you ought to know.
They all listened in surprise to his narrative, and expressed great pleasure at hearing that the men who had been such a pest to the neighborhood, and had caused them all personally a great deal of trouble, had been captured. All had heard tales, too, to Arthur Bastow's disadvantage, and expressed great commiseration for his father.
Do you know that I have a strong suspicion that it was Arthur Bastow?" Mark had, of course, heard of Bastow's escape, but had attached no great importance to it.
It would be the one object of his life, until he succeeded in laying his hand on Bastow's shoulder. He would not shoot him if he could help it. He should prefer to see him in the dock, to hear the sentence passed on him, and to see it carried out. As to the treasure, it was not worth a thought till his first duty was discharged. Presently a servant brought him a cup of tea.
Lastly, the Squire argued that the fellow's vindictive nature and longing for revenge would act as an incentive to bring him back to London. He talked the matter over with Mark, who was now a powerful young fellow of twenty, who, of course, remembered the incidents attending Bastow's capture and trial. "I cannot help fancying that the fellow will come back, Mark."
It was noticed by those who could see the prisoners' faces that, in spite of Bastow's air of indifference, there was an expression of anxiety on his face as the charge was read, and he undoubtedly felt relief as that against himself was mentioned. The first witness was John Knapp, and the constable stepped into the witness box. "What do you know of this business, Knapp?" the chairman asked.
"Just tell it your own way." "I am constable of Crowswood, your honor, and yesterday Squire Thorndyke said to me " "No, you must not tell it like that, Knapp; you must not repeat what another person said to you. You can say that from information received you did so and so." "Yes, your honor. From information received I went to the Rev. Mr. Bastow's house, at a quarter to nine last night.
It was late in the afternoon before Millicent came down with Mrs. Cunningham. The news of Mr. Bastow's death had set her tears flowing afresh; she had been very fond of him, and that he and the Squire should have been taken at once seemed almost beyond belief.
"Ah, I forgot you had not heard about the affair yesterday evening: a man fired at us through the window when we were sitting round the fire, before the candles were lit. The ball passed between my father's head and Mr. Bastow's; both had a narrow escape; the bullet is imbedded in the mantelpiece. I will have it cut out; it may be a useful item of evidence some day."
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