"Oh! Do let him come in."
The servant reappearing, showed me into the breakfast-room, in which
several ladies were at one end of a well-covered table. Lady Knowsley
was seated, presiding at the tea-urn, with several young ladies on
either side, and Sir Reginald at the foot.
I made my bow as I entered. Lady Knowsley held out her hand without
rising, and Sir Reginald turned partly round in his chair and gave me a
nod, then went on eating his breakfast, while the young ladies smiled.
The footman placed a chair for me in a vacant place at the table.
"You have had a long walk, and must be ready for breakfast," said Lady
Knowles, in a kind tone.
"Thank you, I took some on my way," I answered, not wishing to loose
time by having to repeat an operation I felt that I could not perform in
the presence of so many young ladies with my accustomed appetite.
"You must have got up another appetite by this time," observed Sir
Reginald. "Come youngster! Here is an egg and some ham. Julia, cut
him a slice of bread, and Lady Knowles will supply you with tea. Fall
to, now, and let me see what sort of a man you are."
Thus pressed, I was compelled to eat what was set before me, which I did
without any great difficulty. Sir Reginald was too polite to ask me the
object of my visit till I had finished. He pressed me to take more, but
I declined, and I then told him that I had heard that Mark Riddle had
been taken poaching with some other lads who had led him astray.
"That is your opinion, Master Cheveley," observed Sir Reginald, with a
laugh; "why the fellow is the most arrant young poacher in the
neighbourhood. My people have been aware of it for a long time, but
have hitherto been unable to capture him."
"I hope that they are mistaken, Sir Reginald," I observed; "I have seen
a good deal of Mark Riddle, and his father is a very fine old sailor."
"He may be that, although I have reason to believe that he is, besides,
as determined a smuggler as any on the coast, though he is too cunning
to be caught," answered the baronet. "No, no, Master Cheveley; young
Mark must be sent to prison unless he is allowed as a favour to go to
sea instead."
I was determined not to be defeated, notwithstanding what the baronet
had said. I still pleaded for Mark, and the ladies, who are generally
ready to take the weaker side joined with me.
"Suppose he is guilty. He is very young. If he would promise not to
poach again, will it not be kind to let him off?" said Lady Knowles.
"It would be kinder to give him a lesson which he will not forget," said
Sir Reginald; "notwithstanding all his promises, he would be certain to
poach again. He might end by killing a keeper, and have to be sent to
the gallows, as has been the fate of many. Poachers and smugglers must
be put down at all costs."
In spite of my intention to persevere, I found that I hadn't the
slightest chance of moving the feelings of the baronet. I, however,
supported by the ladies, got leave to pay Mark a visit, and I learned
from them that he and the other men were not to be sent off to prison
until the following day, when the constables would come to carry them
away. I stayed for some time, the young ladies chatting pleasantly with
me, till at length thinking that I ought to take my departure, I asked
to be allowed to go to Sir Reginald's study, to obtain an order for me
to visit Mark.
"I'll get it for you," said Miss Julia; "we all feel compassion for the
poor lad, who has evidently been led astray by bad companions." In a
short time she returned, with an order to the constable in charge of the
prisoners.
Thanking her very much, and wishing her and her sisters and Lady Knowles
good-bye, I hastened round to the back of the house, where the lock-up
room was situated.
The constable, on seeing the order, admitted me without hesitation.
"Well, Master Dick, this is kind of you to come and see me when I'm in
trouble," said Mark, immediately stretching out his hand. "From what I
hear, it will go hard with me."
I asked him if he could not prove that he had been misled by others, and
would promise not to go poaching again.
"No; that I can't, either one or the other," he answered promptly. "I
went of my own free will, and if I was let out, as long as I had a gun
and powder and shot, I should go and make use of it. But I don't want
to go to prison; and if I'm sent to sea, I should like to choose how and
when I am to go."
"You must find it very dull work sitting here all day, having nothing to
do," I remarked. "Would you like to make some blocks? I have got some
wood and a sharp knife, with a saw and file, in my pocket. It will be
better than doing nothing."