He then sat down, took out a number of law papers from his pocket, made no scruple to borrow a sheet of paper from the writing-book on the table, and having folded it neatly down into proper form, was, in two minutes after Mrs. Effingham had left him, busily engaged in making an abstract of one of the documents which he had spread out before him. His only thought in so doing was, "I may as well employ the time this way as any other;" but the fact of his so doing proved of great advantage. He had written one page, and was half way down the second, when a loud ringing was heard at the bell. Before any of the servants could appear, though they run to open the door with habitual quickness, the ringing was repeated, and when the footman arrived at the door, followed by the butler, three or four men, presented themselves, headed by the governor of the county jail. As soon as the door was open, the governor demanded sharply, "Has any gentleman been here to-night, to visit the family?" "Yes, sir," replied the butler, at once advancing, "there has; but I should like to know why you ask?" "Because, sir," replied the other, "I am governor of the county jail, from which a prisoner has made his escape this night, and we have traced him here. What is the gentleman's name that has been here?" "His name is Morrison, sir," replied the butler. "Then there was somebody with him," said the governor. "No, that's not true," replied the butler, in a frank tone, that admitted scarcely of a doubt, "there is no one but himself and our own family that has entered these doors to-night. Of that I'll take my oath. He is in the drawing-room now, on business with my mistress, and will tell you so himself. I will go and call him." "Stop! stop! my good fellow," cried the governor, "you don't stir a step. Take care of these good fellows, constable, while I go in. I must intrude upon the ladies at all risks. Is that the drawing-room door?" "No, sir," replied the butler, "that's the anteroom door, but it leads to the drawing-room. Go if you like, you'll only be thought a saucy companion for your pains; and if my mistress blames me, it's not my fault, you know." Without making any reply, the governor walked straight forward and threw open the anteroom door. The door beyond was partly open, so that he could see into the drawing-room at once, and there was no possibility of anybody in it making their escape without being perceived. There, however, sat Everard Morrison alone at the table, with half a dozen large law papers spread all over it, the pen in his hand, the abstract he was making lying before him, and the ink still wet upon three or four lines preceding.