"By your permission, Sir Arthur," replied Dudley, "I will put one question to this good man." "Oh! as many as you please," answered the baronet, throwing himself back in his chair, evidently not very much at ease. "Well, then, tell me, my good friend the constable," continued Dudley, "who was it that gave you orders to apprehend me?" "Why, nobody gave me orders like," replied the constable; "but I had information like." "From whom?" demanded Dudley. "That is exactly what I want to know." The man looked a little bewildered, but at length replied, "Why, I was told not to say anything about it." "Yes; but you must say something here," said Dudley. "I insist upon your informing Sir Arthur Adelon, who it was that gave you that information." "Why, it was Mr. Filmer; Father Peter, as they call him, if I must say," replied the constable. "I don't see why he should mind my telling." "I doubt its being very pleasing to him," replied Dudley; "but with that we have nothing to do." "I do not see what we have to do with the matter at all," said Sir Arthur Adelon. "To me it seems of no importance." "To you it is of the greatest importance in the world," replied Dudley. "I put the question for the express purpose of leading to the complete display of a villain's character. I must request you to send for Mr. Filmer, sir." "I have sent for him already," said Sir Arthur, sharply; "but the question is, whether you, sir, are an escaped convict or not, and with that Mr. Filmer has nothing to do." "That is not the whole question," replied Dudley. "When that is all made clear, it will remain to be seen whether these men have acted properly in taking me into custody without a warrant, and without information on oath. I might also add, that they sought, in the first instance, doubtless by the advice of the same worthy informer, to take me four miles hence, to Mr. Conway, when they apprehended me on the very grounds of Brandon." "That was wrong," said Sir Arthur. "Pray, who told you to do that, constable?" "Why, Mr. Filmer, sir," answered the man. "Ah! here he comes to answer for himself," observed the baronet as the door opened; but instead of Mr. Filmer, it was the baronet's son who appeared, and walking straight up to Dudley, he shook hands with him warmly.