"Thank you, sir," said the sergeant grumpily. "I suppose we shall be obliged to have a look at the roof from outside. I don't want to be reported to my captain for not having done my duty. But look here, Mr Constable," and to Waller's great relief the man turned his back upon him and faced Gusset, while the boy felt as if he was turning white, and his hands grew moist. "You gave information," continued the sergeant, "and it seems to me that this is more your job than mine. How are we to get up on the roof?" "Ladder, of course," cried Gusset eagerly. "They have got long ones here that they use for the apples and stacks. You must get up out at the back." "Oh, oh, oh!" groaned Waller to himself. "I should like to have you out at the back!" "Oh, very well," said the sergeant. "Out with you, my lads, and let's get it over," and, as the men marched out, following the constable, who seemed quite at home in the geography of the house, the sergeant stopped to speak to Waller. "There, sir, you see I can't help myself, so don't blame me." "No," said Waller; and, in spite of his efforts, his voice sounded very strange. But the man had turned away, and did not heed. Gusset led the way into the big, open yard at the back, and, acting under his directions, the soldiers followed to a low shed, beneath which one of the long, thin, tapering ladders with straddling legs, used in country places, hung upon two great iron pegs against the wall. "There you are," said Gusset. "Bring it out! Quick!" "Here, I say," snarled one of the men he addressed, "who are you ordering about? You are not our sergeant." "There, don't talk, my lads," cried that individual, coming up. "Bring the ladder out and heave it up against that side of the house where the roof slopes." At that moment the gardener, who had, as it were, been taken by surprise, and in the rear, came hurrying round from where he had been waiting by the porch in a great state of excitement. "Here, I say! Hold hard there!" he cried. "What are you doing with my ladder? Let it be! I don't want that broke." He turned to Waller as if to ask him to put a stop to it, but the boy avoided his gaze, thrust his hands deeply into his pockets, and stood frowning. "Here, don't you interfere, Joe Hanson; you will be getting yourself into trouble," spluttered Gusset, in his husky voice; and he unconsciously blew out his cheeks and opened his eyes wider as he took a fresh breath. "This here's all in the King's name." "King's name!" cried the gardener sharply as he lifted his blue serge apron and began to twist it up in a tail to tuck up round his waist. "What's the King's name got to do with it? I am talking about my ladder." "There, there, gardener," said the sergeant, "don't stop us. I want to get this job done. My boys don't understand ladders like you do; perhaps you wouldn't mind pitching it up against the roof?"