Part 74 (1/2)

”Mr. Maxwell's!” said the other, startled. ”Is he in this affair too?”

”Yes; have you not heard? He came from Great Keynes this morning. Mr.

Lackington sent for him.”

Mr. Buxton's face grew dark.

”Ah yes, I see--a pretty revenge.”

The magistrate was on the point of asking an explanation, for he felt on the best of terms again now with his prisoner, when there were footsteps outside and voices; and there stood four constables, with Nichol, Hubert Maxwell and Lackington in furious debate coming up the path behind.

They looked up suddenly, and saw the door open and the magistrate and his prisoner standing in the opening. The four constables stood waiting for further orders while their three chiefs came up.

”Now, now, now!” said Mr. Graves peevishly, ”what is all this?”

”We have come to search this house, sir,” said Nichol cheerfully.

”See here, sir,” said Hubert, ”have you given orders for this?”

”Enough, enough,” said Lackington coolly. ”Search, men.”

The pursuivants advanced to the steps. Then Mr. Buxton turned fiercely on them all.

”See here!” he cried, and his voice rang out across the garden. ”You bring me here, Mr. Graves, promising me a little peace and quietness, after your violent and unwarranted attack upon my house to-day. I have been patient and submissive to all suggestions; I leave my entire house at your disposal; I promise to lay no complaints before her Grace, so long as you will let me retire here till it is over--and now your men persecute me even here. Have you no mind of your own, sir?” he shouted.

”Really, sir----” began Hubert.

”And as for you, Mr. Maxwell,” went on the other fiercely, ”are you not content with your triumph so far? Cannot you leave me one corner to myself, or would your revenge be not full enough for you, then?”

”You mistake me, sir,” said Hubert, making a violent effort to control himself; ”I am on your side in this matter.”

”That is what I am beginning to think,” said Lackington insolently.

”You think!” roared Mr. Buxton; ”and who the devil are you?”

”See here, gentlemen,” said Mr. Nichol, ”what is the dispute? Here is an empty house, Mr. Buxton tells us; and Mr. Maxwell tells us the same.

Well, then, let these honest fellows run through the empty house; it will not take ten minutes, and Mr. Buxton and his friend can take the air meanwhile. A-G.o.d's name, let us not dispute over a trifle.”

”Then, a-G.o.d's name, let me go to my own house,” bellowed Mr. Buxton, ”and these gentlemen can have the empty house to disport themselves in till doomsday--or till her Grace looks into the matter”; and he made a motion to run down the steps, but his heart sank. Mr. Graves put out a deprecating hand and touched his arm; and Mr. Buxton very readily turned at once with a choleric face!

”No, no, no!” cried the magistrate. ”These gentlemen are here on my warrant, and they shall not search the place. Mr. Buxton, I entreat you not to be hasty. Come back, sir.”

Mr. Buxton briskly reascended.

”Well, then, Mr. Graves, I entreat you to give your orders, and let your will be known. I am getting hungry for my supper, too, sir. It is already an hour past my time.”

”Sup in the house, sir,” said Mr. Nichol smoothly, ”and we shall have done by then.”

Then Hubert blazed up; he took a step forward.

”Now, you fellow,” he said to Nichol, ”hold your d.a.m.ned tongue. Mr.

Graves and I are the magistrates here, and we say that this gentleman shall sup and sleep here in peace, so you may take your pursuivants elsewhere.”