“Really, Mr. Juxon,” he said in an agitated tone, “I think you would do much better to protect yourself with the means provided by the law.  Considerations of humanity—­”

“Considerations of humanity, sir, are at an end when one man threatens the life of another.  You admit yourself that I am not safe unless Goddard is caught, and yet you object to my method of catching him.  That is illogical.”

The vicar felt that this was to some extent true; but he was not willing to admit it.  He knew also that if he could dissuade the squire from his barbarous scheme, Goddard would have a far better chance of escape.

“I think that with the assistance of Gall and a London detective—­” he began.

“Gall is an old woman, Mr. Ambrose, and it will take twenty-four hours to get a detective from town.  In twenty-four hours this man may have attacked me.”

“He will hardly attempt to force his way into your house, Mr. Juxon.”

“So then, I am to stay at home to suit his convenience?  I will not do any such thing.  Besides, in twenty-four hours Goddard may have changed his mind and may have taken himself off.  For the rest of her life Mrs. Goddard will then be exposed to the possibility of every kind of annoyance.”

“He would never come back, I am sure,” objected the vicar.

“Why not?  Every time he comes she will give him money.  The more money she gives him the more often he will come, unless we put an end to his coming altogether.”

“You seem to forget,” urged Mr. Ambrose, “that there will be a vigorous search made for him.  Why not telegraph to the governor of Portland?”

“I thought you wanted to save Mrs. Goddard from needless scandal; did you not?” returned the squire.  “The governor of Portland would send down a squad of police who would publish the whole affair.  He would have done so as soon as the man escaped had he known that Mrs. Goddard lived here.”

“I wonder how Goddard himself knew it,” remarked Mr. Ambrose.

“I don’t know.  Perhaps she told him she was coming here, at their last interview.  Or perhaps she wrote to him in prison and the governor overlooked the letter.  Anything like that would account for it.”

“But if you catch him—­alive,” hesitated the vicar, “it will all be known at once.  I do not see how you can prevent that.”

“If I catch him alive, I will take him out of Billingsfield without any one’s knowledge.  I do not mean to hurt him.  I only want to get him back to prison.  Believe me, I am much more anxious than you can possibly be to save Mrs. Goddard from harm.”

“Very well.  I have done my errand,” said Mr. Ambrose, with a sort of sigh of relief.  “I confess, I am in great anxiety of mind, both on your account and on hers.  I never dreamed that such things could happen in Billingsfield.”

“You are certainly not responsible for them,” answered Mr. Juxon.  “It is not your fault—­”