He concluded Sir Charles would not refuse him the
benefit of the law, however obnoxious he might be.
Sir Charles's lips curled with contempt at the man who was not ashamed
to put such a doubt on paper.
However, he wrote back a civil line, to say that of course he was at
Mr. Bassett's service, and would be in his justice-room at nine
o'clock.
Meantime, Mr. Richard Bassett went for the constable and an assistant;
but, even to them, he would not say precisely what he wanted them for.
His plan was to march an unknown burglar, with his crape on his face,
into Sir Charles's study, give his evidence, and then reveal the son to
the father.
Jessie managed to hold her tongue for an hour or two, and nothing
occurred at Highmore or in Huntercombe to interfere with Richard
Bassett's barbarous revenge.
Meantime, however, something remarkable had occurred at the distance of
a mile and a quarter.
Mrs. Meyrick breakfasted habitually at eight o'clock.
Reginald did not appear.
Mrs. Meyrick went to his room, and satisfied herself he had not passed
the night there.
Then she went to the foreign gent's shed.
He was not there.
Then she went out, and called loudly to them both.
No answer.
Then she went into the nearest meadow, to see if they were in sight.
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