catch open, and within were two pistols
cocked and primed, of which Eben and Tom took instant possession.
Meanwhile, as may be imagined, my grandmother improved the occasion.

"A lawvier, are you, Master Wringham Poole o' Dumfries," she cried? "A
bonny lawvier, that does his business wi' a pair o' loaded pistols. Like
master, like man, I say! There's but ae kind o' lawvier that does his
business like that--he's caa'ed a cut-purse, a common highwayman, and
ends by dancing a bonny saraband at the end o' a tow-rope! Lalor
Maitland assaulted Marnhoul wi' just such a band o' thieves and
robbers--to steal away the bairns. This will be another o' the gang.
Lads, take hold, and see what he has on him."

But with one bound the seemingly weak and slender man flung himself in
the direction of the door. Before they could move he was out into the
lobby among the lavender bags containing Mary Lyon's Sunday wardrobe,
and but for the fact that he mistook the door of a preserve closet for
the front door, he might easily have escaped them all. But Rob, who was
young and active, closed in upon him. The slim man squirmed like an eel,
and even when on the ground drew a knife and stuck it into the calf of
Rob's leg. A yell, and a stamp followed, and then a great silence in
which we looked at one another awe-stricken. Mr. Wringham Poole lay like
a crushed caterpillar, inert and twitching. It seemed as if Rob had
killed him; but my grandfather, with proper care and precautions drew
away the knife, and after having passed a hand over the body in search
of further concealed weapons, laid him out on the four haircloth chairs,
with a footstool under his head for a pillow.

Then, having listened to the beating of the wounded man's heart, he
reassured us with a nod. All would be right. Next, from an inner pocket
he drew a pocket-book, out of the first division of which dropped a
black mask, like those worn at the assault upon Marnhoul, with pierced
eyeholes and strings for fastening behind the ears. There were also a
few papers and a card on which was printed a name--

"Wringham Pollixfen Poole"; and then underneath, written in pencil in a
neat lawyer-like hand, were the words, "Consultation at the Old Port at
midnight to-morrow."

At this we all looked at one another with a renewal of our perturbation.
The firm of Smart, Poole and Smart had existed in Dumfries for a long
time, and was highly considered. But in these troubled times one never
k