Page:Paul Clifford Vol 3.djvu/117

Rh great coat, and of somewhat a suspicious appearance—

"Aha, Captain!" said he, "you are beyond your time, but all's well!"

Attempting, with indifferent success, the easy self-possession which generally marked his address to his companions, Clifford, repeating the stranger's words, replied—

"All's well!—what! are the prisoners released?"

"No, faith!" answered the man, with a rough laugh, "not yet; but all in good time; it is a little too much to expect the justices to do our work, though, God knows, we often do theirs!"

"What then?" asked Clifford impatiently.

"Why, the poor fellows had been carried to the town of, and brought before the queer cuffin before I arrived, though I set off the moment you told me, and did the journey in four hours. The examination lasted all yesterday, and they were remanded till to-day;—let's see, it is not yet noon; we may be there before it's over!"