I
will have a cart ready, close by. We will truss him up tightly, gag
him and put him into it, and I will have some place ready for us to
drive him to, if you think that plan is as good as any other."
"I think it is an excellent plan, and could not be better," Charlie
exclaimed, and his friend heartily agreed with him.
"I think you will be able to get anything out of him, when you get
him there," said the tipstaff. "He is sure to have some of the swag
about him, and, even if none of the passengers of the coach are
able to swear to him, that and the talk you overheard would be
sufficient to hang him."
"Can those boys you speak of write?"
"Not they, sir."
"There might be a difficulty about a verbal message."
"The guard will give it, all right, if he gets half a crown with
it. You need not trouble about that, sir. I will have a man to meet
each coach, as it comes in.
"And now we have arranged matters, sir, I will go with you to see
the house, and will send a sharp fellow down tomorrow, to make
inquiries about the people of the place."
When they returned, the friends sat for a long time, talking
together. The suggested plan looked so hopeful that they felt
confident of its success.
"I think, Charlie," Harry said, "it would be a good thing for us to
present ourselves to the Duke of Marlborough.
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