“But you see, Captain Bates, as an officer of the crown, you are fully aware that all sorts of knaves have tried to rob the gallant colonel ere now, and at this time, I fear me he has a greater enemy to contend with than ever before; for I heard to-night, as a very great secret, that Captain Jack is no longer the chief of the crown officers, and has been degraded by the colonel; in truth, we have especial orders to guard the place against him and his gang above all others.” “Captain Jack, eh?” said Bates’s long-legged companion. “Ah! now I come to think of it, I heard something like that spoken of to-night, while attending the Countess of Gresham’s ball; a great villain that Captain Jack, I hear.” “Oh, monstrous,” said the watchmen, in chorus. “Oh, a perfect rogue and vagabond. Instead of doing his duty in arresting rogues and rascals, he has been bribed to enormous amounts by them to allow them to remain at large.” “Shocking! monstrous!” said Jack. “Horrible! he ought to be hanged,” said Bates, coughing, “which he will surely be, if the colonel only lays hands on him.” So speaking, and bidding them good night, Jack and Bates went on their way, laughing. “Fine fellow that Bates,” said one of the watchmen. “Yes; only for his nose; why, it has got a piece clipped out of it, which spoils his beauty.” “He got that in a desperate duel—I once heard him say—but he killed his antagonist, run him through and through the body; fine fellow is Bates. How much did he give you to drink his health with?” “A gold piece.” “Good luck to him, say I. Let us go into some wine-shop and have a bottle. What say you? Surely the house will be safe for half-an-hour.” So speaking, the two watchmen went into the nearest wine-shop that was open. Both Bates and Jack had watched them. “Now’s our time, Bates,” said Jack. They both disappeared down the dark carriage-way, which was screened by trees and bushes. [Illustration: A STORMY INTERVIEW.—_See Number 20._] They both whistled softly, and the signal was quickly answered. “All right; the lads are up to their time.” In a moment, where a second before no one had been seen, eight or nine men appeared crouching under the garden wall. “All right,” said one, whispering to Bates. “Have you taken a good squint all round the house?” “Yes; all are abed.” “Sure of that?” “Positive.” “But the dogs?” “We have poisoned them an hour ago; they are all stiff and cold by this.” “Then let us commence. Where is the rope-ladder?” “Here it is,” said one, unwinding a rope-ladder from around his body, and which had been concealed by a short cloak. “Let a man watch each side of the house,” said Jack. “Bates and I will enter, and pass all the valuables out to you; put them into the boat as fast as possible, and if there should be any alarm, run towards the river. The boat is large enough to take us all.” “If we only had skeleton keys now,” said Bates.