The noise they made on entering the court-yard seemed to have roused the inmates from the sleep into which they had apparently been plunged. An old butler, followed by a couple of footmen, came out of the house, and with evident alarm depicted in his countenance, requested to know their business. "Our business is with Sir Richard Rawcliffe," replied Atherton. "We must see him immediately." "I do not think Sir Richard will see you, gentlemen," replied the butler. "He is much fatigued. I will deliver any message to him with which you may charge me." "We must see him," cried the sergeant, authoritatively. "We come from the prince." The butler no longer hesitated, but assuming a deferential air, said he would at once conduct the gentlemen to his master. As they had already dismounted, he bade one of the servants take their horses to the stable, and ushered the unwelcome visitors into a large entrance-hall, in which a wood fire was burning. Remarking that the butler stared at him very hard, Atherton said: "You look at me as if you had seen me before. Is it so? I have no recollection of you." "I don't think I have seen you before, sir," replied the man, gravely. "But I have seen some one very like you." Whom shall I announce to Sir Richard?" "I am Captain Legh," said Atherton. "But there is no necessity to announce me. Conduct me to your master at once." The butler, though evidently uneasy, did not venture to disobey, but led him to a room that opened out of the hall. The sergeant followed close behind Atherton. They had been ushered into the library. Sir Richard was writing at a table, but raising his eyes on their entrance, he started up, and exclaimed in an angry voice: "Why have you brought these persons here, Markland. I told you I would not be disturbed." "Your servant is not to blame, Sir Richard," interposed Atherton. "I insisted upon seeing you. I am sent to bring you to the prince." "It is my intention to return to Manchester to-night," replied the baronet, haughtily. "But I have some affairs to arrange." "I shall be sorry to inconvenience you, Sir Richard," observed Atherton. "But my orders are precise. You must present yourself at the prince's head-quarters before midnight." "I engage to do so," replied the baronet. "But you must be content to accompany me, Sir Richard. Such are my orders from his royal highness." "And mine," added Sergeant Dickson. Controlling his anger by a powerful effort, Sir Richard said with forced calmness: "Since such are the prince's orders I shall not dispute them. I will return with you to Manchester. We will set out in two hours' time. In the interim I shall be able to arrange some papers which I came for, and which I desire to take with me. By that time you will have rested, and your horses will be ready for the journey." Then turning to Markland, he added: "Conduct Captain Legh and Sergeant Dickson to the dining-room, and set some refreshment before them without delay."