“No, its quite private business of another kind,” said Mr. Seyton. “There is my card—this is my son. Please to tell Sir Frederick that we have a private communication to make to him alone.”
The man took the card and passed through a doorway, growling as he went.
In a few moments he returned, and taking a key from a bunch at his girdles he opened a door at the further end of the passage, at the same time saying,—
Albert and his father stepped forward after their guide. In a moment another door opened, from which issued a stream of light, and they found themselves in the presence of Sir Frederick Hartleton, the magistrate, the terror of highwaymen; several of whom he had himself captured on Hounslow and Barnes’ Commons.
He rose courteously on the entrance of the Seytons, and invited them to be seated. Before they could speak, he said rapidly,—
“Gentlemen, I trust you will not take any offence at my saying that my time is very much occupied, and begging you to be brief.”
“The time of public affairs, sir,” said Mr. Seyton, “should never be heedlessly wasted. Do you know a man named Gray?”
“Gray—Gray?” repeated Sir Frederick Hartleton. “No, sir, I do not.”
“There exists, however, a man of that name, who, without authority, keeps prisoner a young girl, if he has not destroyed her.”
“You do not bring me many particulars,” said the magistrate. “What do you wish me to do?”
“In this man Gray’s possession, sir,” added Mr. Seyton, “is a sealed packet carefully addressed to you.”
“Yes—and with a superscription attached, that is only to be forwarded to you, should he, Gray, be absent from home without note or message for a certain time.”
“Then you may depend that this Mr. Gray has found his way home in good time, for I have received no such packet.”
“We,” continued Mr. Seyton, “from once living in the same house with her, have warmly interested ourselves in the fate of the girl, who is as virtuous and amiable as she is beautiful.”
“We believe he is. He has twice shifted his residence, to ensure the better concealment of the girl.”
“There is most probably some crime at the bottom of this business,” said Sir Frederick; “but I cannot help you. If you can find the girl, I will of course grant a warrant to bring Gray here, for keeping her a prisoner without her will. At the same time, you had better tell me the minutest particulars as rapidly as you conveniently can.”