After dinner, the lawyer repaired to the Squire’s office, and briefly informed him, that the fortune in funds and property to which his niece had fallen heir was valued at 80,000 pounds sterling, and that, fortunately, there was no sign of any contest or opposition in the matter.  He also explained that, under the circumstances, he felt constrained to take a brief lodging at the post office, and begged Mr. Carruthers to apologize to his wife for the desertion of Bridesdale.  Then, he sought out Mr Terry in the garden and smoked a pipe with him, while his new friend, Mr. Douglas, was chatting on the verandah between Miss Carmichael and Miss Graves.  Nobody else seemed to want him or care for him; he had even lost his old friend Wilks, who was absorbed in his beloved Cecile.  The colonel was as bad with Cecile’s mother, and Mr. Errol with Mrs. Carmichael.  The Squire was busy, so the veteran and he were left alone.  For a time, they smoked and talked, listening all the while, as they could not fail, to the merry badinage of the party on the verandah.  At last he could stand it no longer.  He rose, bade his companion good-night, and strolled away on to the road.  Once out of observation from the house, he walked rapidly to his new quarters.  “Is that you, Styles?” asked Mrs. Tibbs, as he entered.  He assured the postmistress that he was not Styles, and asked if there was anything he could do for her.  “There is a letter here for Squire Carruthers, marked ‘immediate,’ and they have not been for their mail,” she answered.  So, sorely against the grain, the lawyer had to take the letter and return with it to Bridesdale.  Mr. Carruthers was still in his office.  He opened the envelope and read:—­

COLLINGWOOD, Saturday, 12 m.
My Dear Squire,—­

Rawdon and his nephew have broken gaol and escaped.  Be on your
guard.  Will go to you as soon as possible.

Yours truly,
J. HICKEY BANGS.

“This is bad news, Coristine.  It seems as if we’re never to hear the last o’ yon villain.”

“I’m at your service, Squire.”

“I canna thole to ask the colonel, puir man, to lose his nicht’s rest, an’ I’m no ower sure o’ his man.  Sae, the granther an’ I’ll watch till it’s twal’, if you wi’ Timotheus ‘ll relieve us till two i’ the mornin’.  What say ye to thon?”

“All right, I’ll be here at midnight.  Could you get me the cartridges out of my knapsack upstairs?”

The Squire produced the cartridges, and the lawyer went back to his post-office quarters.

Punctually at midnight he returned, and relieved Mr. Carruthers in front of the house, while Timotheus took Mr. Terry’s place behind.  It was after one when he saw a figure, which he did not recognize as belonging to any one in the house, steal out of the front door with a heavy burden.  He ran towards the figure, and it stole, as rapidly as possible, down the garden to the hill meadow.  He knew it now, outlined against the heavens, and fired his revolver.