"All these gentlemen?" he inquired blandly.
"Oh, no, no, no, sir! Not all-Only Mr.-er-"
"Fudby," said that worthy, and discovered that Sir Anthony was bowing frigidly. At once he rose, and resting his knuckles on the table before him, bent his body slowly and painfully. Sir Anthony inclined his head, whereupon, to the delight of all the rest, Mr. Fudby bowed again with even greater stateliness than before. Mr. Hedges observed Sir Anthony's lips to twitch convulsively. He waited for Mr.
Fudby to subside, and then continued: "Yes-Mr. Fudby and Mr.-"
"My clerk!" snapped Fudby.
Sir Anthony favoured Mr. Chilter with his peculiarly sweet smile, and turned again to Mr. Hedges.
"I see. A daylight robbery, you say?"
"Broad daylight!" boomed Mr. Fudby.
"Er-yes, yes," interposed the mayor, fearing a fresh outbreak from that quarter. "I wonder if you have seen anything of such an animal as Mr.-er-Chilter-described?"
"'Tis a most extraordinary thing," said Carstares slowly, "but I have just bought such an one." He glanced round with an inquiring smile and one eyebrow lifted.
"Well!" ejaculated Mr. Fudby. "Well!"
"Dear me, sir, what a strange coincidence! May I ask where you bought it, and from whom?"
"She has not been in my possession over two hours. I bought her from an out-at-elbows ruffian, on my way hither. I thought at one time that 'twas strange that the man should possess such a mare-pure bred, I vow-and wondered why he was so eager to be rid of her."
"He was eager because he knew he would be recognised by her," explained Mr. Fudby kindly.
"Without doubt. Perhaps you would like to see her? I will send my man-"
"Oh no, no!" cried the mayor. "We would not dream of so inconveniencing you-"
"'Twere a pleasure," bowed Jack, devoutly hoping that Mr. Fudby would not require to see Jenny, who, he felt sure, would betray him by her very evident affection.
"No, no, Sir Anthony, 'tis quite unnecessary, I assure you, but I thank you for all that. Mr. Fudby, if you would describe the man himself, I will see to the proclamation."
"Describe him, Chilter!" ordered Mr. Fudby, who was becoming rather grumpy.
Mr. Chilter smiled suddenly.
"Certainly, sir!" he said with alacrity. "'Twas a great ruffianly fellow, monstrous tall-"
"How tall?" interrupted the town-clerk. "Six feet?"
"Oh, quite!" lied Mr. Chilter. "And fat."
Jack's shoulders shook.
"Fat, you say?" he asked gently.
"Very fat," affirmed Mr. Chilter. "And prodigious rough, swearing dreadfully in his speech."
"You could not see his face, I suppose?"
Mr. Chilter hesitated.
"I could see his mouth and chin," he said, "and I remarked a long scar running from his under-lip to the-er-bottom of his face."