"In point of fact, sir," said the constable, lowering his voice, "we are informed that a criminal has escaped from Portland. I never heard of a convict getting out of that strong'old o' the law, sir, and I would like to have your opinion upon it." "But if you are informed that some one has escaped," remarked the squire, "you had better take it for granted that it is true." "Juss so, sir. But the circumstances wasn't communicated to us, sir; so we don't know." Mr. Gall paused, and the squire smoothed his hair a little. "Well, Gall," said Mr. Juxon, "have you any reason for believing that this escaped convict is likely to come this way?" "Well sir, there is some evidence," answered the policeman, mysteriously. "Leastways what seems like evidence to me, sir." "Of what kind?" the squire fixed his quiet eyes on Mr. Gall's face. "His name, sir. The name of the convict. There is a party of that name residin' here." The squire suddenly guessed what was coming, or at least a possibility of it crossed his mind. If Mr. Gall had been a more observant man he would have seen that Mr. Juxon grew a shade paler and changed one leg over the other as he sat. But in that moment he had time to nerve himself for the worst. "And what is the name, if you please?" he asked calmly. "The name in the general orders is Goddard, sir--Walter Goddard. He was convicted of forgery three years ago, sir, a regular bad lot. But discretion is recommended in the orders, sir, as the business is not wanted to get into the papers." The squire was ready. If Gall did not know that Mary Goddard was the wife of the convict Walter, he should certainly not find it out. In any other country of Europe that would have been the first fact communicated to the local police. Very likely, thought Mr. Juxon, nobody knew it. "I do not see," he said very slowly, "that the fact of there being a Mrs. Goddard residing here in the least proves that she is any relation to this criminal. The name is not so uncommon as that, you know." "Nor I either, sir. In point of fact, sir, I was only thinking. It's what you may call a striking coincidence, that's all." "It would have been a still more striking coincidence if his name had been Juxon like mine, or Ambrose like the vicar's," said the squire calmly. "There are other people of the name in England, and the local policemen will be warned to be on the lookout. If this fellow was called Juxon instead of Goddard, Gall, would you be inclined to think he was a relation of mine?" "Oh no, sir. Ha! ha! Very good sir! Very good indeed! No indeed, sir, and she such a real lady too!" "Well then, I do not see that you can do anything more than keep a sharp look-out. I suppose they sent you some kind of description?" "Well, yes. There was a kind of a description as you say, sir, but I'm not anyways sure of recognising the party by it. In point of fact, sir, the description says the convict is a fair man." "Is that all?"