In a minute the men began to arrive.

They had, as he directed, thrown aside their leather aprons and put on blouses; so that they differed in no way, in appearance, from ordinary working men.

One or two were armed with hammers, others with long knives.
Each carried a piece of black handkerchief in his hand, long enough to go from the forehead down to the mouth.

Leigh tied these on with strings, cutting holes with his knife through which they could see.
When the six men and the foreman had assembled, they entered the house.

The old servant was standing in the hall, wringing his hands in distress.
"Where are they ?" Leigh asked.
"In the master's study, sir.