CHAPTER XVIII

A CONFESSION

T the appointed hour, as the clock of the Abbey was

striking, they gave three gentle knocks at the door of

the house. It was immediately opened by Tony, who held

a candle in his hand, closed the door quietly behind them,
and then led them into a parlour.

“Well, Tony, I suppose all has gone well, as we have not
heard from you.”

“There was nothing to tell you, sir, and, indeed, I have
been mightily busy. In the first place, I got two days’
leave from the courts, and went down myself in a light cart
with the boys and two men. ‘hat way I made sure that
there should be no mistake as to the houses the boys were
to watch. ‘lhe two men I sent on ten miles beyond the
farthest tavern there to watch the road, and if any horse-
man goes by to-night to track him down. ‘This evening I
came here. I brought with me one of my comrades from
the courts, and we told the good woman the character of
the lodger we had seen leave the house a quarter of an hour
before. She almost fainted when we showed her our
badges, and said we must arrest him on his return as a
notorious highwayman and breaker of the laws. She ex-
claimed that her house would be ruined, and it took some
time to pacify her by saying that we would manage the job

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