Luke was in the hall, and opened the outer door. "We are going out on business, Luke, and I shall not be home before night," said Le. The old servant bowed, without the least suspicion of what the nature of that business could be. The party left the house, entered the carriage, the young officer mounting the box, and the elder riding inside with the young men; and they took the road to Mondreer--the same pleasant road through the pine woods and across Chincapin Creek Bridge, that Le and his cousins had so often traveled on foot, or horseback, or in a carriage. It was but half an hour's ride, and at the end of that time they drew up before the door of Mondreer. Old Bowen alighted first; Leonidas and Roland followed. "You drive the carriage round to the stable, and keep it there for us to go back to town in," said the old officer to the younger one, who was on the box. "And keep a still tongue in your head, mind you!" he added, in a whisper, to his subordinate, who nodded, and drove off toward the stables. Old Jake met the party at the door, and said: "Marster wishes you ge'men to walk right on inter de liberary; and dis is de way," he added, with a bow and a flourish of his arm, as he walked on before and opened the door leading into the rear room, which was Mr. Force's sanctum. CHAPTER XXXIV BEFORE THE SQUIRE Mr. Force was seated in his leathern chair before a large, open fire, and beside a round table covered with books and stationery. The squire, with his surroundings, looked as little like a magistrate in his office as could be well imagined. Nor was his greeting of the prisoners at all magisterial. Both young gentlemen bowed very gravely on entering his presence. But he arose from his chair and shook hands with each in turn, with a kindly: "Good-morning, Mr. Bayard! Good-morning, Le! Take chairs, both of you." The young men bowed again, and obeyed. There was a short pause, during which the squire reseated himself, and took up a paper which lay on the table beside him, scanned it, and said: "Here is a most serious charge laid against both of you, young gentlemen--a charge of so grave a nature, indeed, as to compel me, in my character as justice of the peace, to have you arrested and brought here to be dealt with according to the laws you have broken." "What is the charge, sir, who has made it, and what evidence has our accuser?" inquired Leonidas Force, with some youthful dignity. "You shall hear," said the squire, and he rang a hand bell on his table, which quickly brought Jake to his presence. "Go to the parlor and ask Miss Bayard if she will be so kind as to step in here," he said. The old negro bowed and withdrew. "By the holy poker, Aunt Sibby heard us yesterday!" whispered Roland to Leonidas. "I suppose she did; that solves the mystery. But to think of her giving information!" replied Le, in the same low tone. Miss Sibby entered the room, and closed the door behind her.