326 A JACOBITE EXILE

so quietly that no one in the house need know of it, and
that we would, if possible, arrange it so that the place of
his arrest should not be made public. At that she at once
consented to do all that we wished her. We searched his
room carefully, and found some watches, rings, and other
matters that answered to the description of those stolen
from a coach that was stopped near Dorking three weeks
ago. My mate has taken them away. As she was afraid
that a scuffle in the bed-room might attract the attention of
the four other gentlemen who are lodging here, I arranged
that it should be done at the door. In that case, lf there
was any inquiry in the morning, she could say that it was
some drunken fellow who had come to the house by mistake
and had tried to force his way in. So she put this parlour
at our disposal, and as I have got the shutters up and the
curtains drawn, there is no fear of his noticing the light,
for as we may have some hours to wait, it is more pleasant
to have a candle than to sit in the dark.”

“Does she come down to let him in?” Harry asked.

“No, sir, the door is left on the latch. She says he finds
his way up to his room in the dark, and the candle and a
tinder-box are always placed handy for him there. We
will take our shoes off presently, and when we hear footsteps
come up to the door and stop we will blow out the candle
and steal out into the passage so as to catch him directly
he closes the door. I have got handcuffs here, some rope,
and a gag.”

“Very well, then. I will undertake the actual seizing of
him,” Charlie said. “You slip on the handcuffs, and you,
Harry, if you can find his throat in the dark, grip it pretty
tightly till Tony can slip the gag into his mouth. Then he
can light the candle again, and we can then disarm and
search him, fasten his legs, and get him ready to put in the
cart.”

The hours passed slowly, although Tony did his best to