Haward pushed back his chair from the table, and, rising, walked across the room to the window.  Hugon followed him, straining at the rope about his arms and speaking thickly.  His eyes were glaring, his teeth bared.  When he was so close that the Virginian could feel his hot breath, the latter turned, and uttering an oath of disgust struck the back of his hand across his lips.  With the cry of an animal, Hugon, bound as he was, threw himself bodily upon his foe, who in his turn flung the trader from him with a violence that sent him reeling against the wall.  Here Saunderson, a man of powerful build, seized him by the shoulders, holding him fast; MacLean, too, hurriedly crossed from the door.  There was no need, for the half-breed’s frenzy was spent.  He stood with glittering eyes following Haward’s every motion, but quite silent, his frame rigid in the overseer’s grasp.

Colonel Byrd went up to Haward and spoke in a low voice:  “Best send them at once to Williamsburgh.”

Haward shook his head.  “I cannot,” he said, with a gesture of impatience.  “There is no proof.”

“No proof!” exclaimed his guest sharply.  “You mean”—­

The other met his stare of surprise with an imperturbable countenance.  “What I say,” he answered quietly.  “My servants find two men lurking beside a road that I am traveling.  Being somewhat over-zealous, they take them up upon suspicion of meaning mischief and bring them before me.  It is all guesswork why they were at the turn of the road, and what they wanted there.  There is no proof, no witness”—­

“I see that there is no witness that you care to call,” said the Colonel coldly.

Haward waved his hand.  “There is no witness,” he said, without change of tone.  “And therefore, Colonel, I am about to dismiss the case.”

With a slight bow to his guest he left the window, and advanced to the group in the centre of the room.  “Saunderson,” he said abruptly, “take these two men to the quarter and cut their bonds.  Give them a start of fifty yards, then loose the dogs and hunt them from the plantation.  You have men outside to help you?  Very well; go!  Mr. MacLean, will you see this chase fairly started?”

The Highlander, who had become very thoughtful of aspect since entering the room, and who had not shared Saunderson’s start of surprise at the master’s latest orders, nodded assent.  Haward stood for a moment gazing steadily at Hugon, but with no notice to bestow upon the bowing schoolmaster; then walked over to the harpsichord, and, sitting down, began to play an old tune, soft and slow, with pauses between the notes.  When he came to the final chord he looked over his shoulder at the Colonel, standing before the mantel, with his eyes upon the fire.  “So they have gone,” he said.  “Good riddance!  A pretty brace of villains!”

“I should be loath to have Monsieur Jean Hugon for my enemy,” said the Colonel gravely.

Haward laughed.  “I was told at Williamsburgh that a party of traders go to the Southern Indians to-morrow, and he with them.  Perhaps a month or two of the woods will work a cure.”