You have decided, though not
convinced me. Detain him within the house, if you will, until the
morrow; in the meantime, I will consider over my line of conduct."

"Is this, then, your resolve?"

"It is. Mr. Coates," said Ranulph, calling the attorney, who had been an
inquisitive spectator, though, luckily, not an auditor of this
interview, "unbind the prisoner, and bring him hither."

"Is it your ladyship's pleasure?" asked Mr. Coates, who regretted
exceedingly that he could not please both parties.

Lady Rookwood signified her assent by a slight gesture in the
affirmative.

"Your bidding shall be done, Sir Ranulph," said Coates, bowing and
departing.

"_Sir_ Ranulph!" echoed Lady Rookwood, with strong emphasis; "marked you
that?"

"Body o' me," muttered the attorney, "this is the most extraordinary
family, to be sure. Make way, gentlemen, if you please," added he,
pushing through the crowd, towards the prisoner.

Having described what took place between Lady Rookwood and her son in
one part of the room, we must now briefly narrate some incidental
occurrences in the other. The alarm of a robber having been taken spread
with great celerity through the house, and almost all its inmates rushed
into the room, including Dr. Small, Titus Tyrconnel, and Jack Palmer.

"Odsbodikins! are you there, honey?" said Titus, who discovered his
ally; "the bird's caught, you see."

"Caught be d--d," replied Jack, bluffly; "so I see; all his own fault;
infernal folly to come here, at such a time as this. However, it can't
be helped now; he must make the best of it. And as to that sneaking,
gimlet-eyed, parchment-skinned quill-driver, if I don't serve him out
for his officiousness one of these days, my name's not Jack Palmer."

"Och! cushlamacree! did I ever? why, what's the boy to you, Jack? Fair
play's a jewel, and surely Mr. Coates only did his duty. I'm sorry he's
captured, for his relationship to Sir Piers, and because I think he'll
be tucked up for his pains; and, moreover, I could forgive the poaching;
but as to the breaking into a house on such an occasion as this, och!
It's a plaguy bad look. I'm afraid he's worse than I thought him."

A group of the tenantry, many of whom were in a state of intoxication,
had, in the meantime, formed themselves round the prisoner. Whatever
might be the nature of his thoughts, no apprehension was visible in
Luke's countenance. He stood erect amidst the assemblage, his tall form
toweri