his pocket, all
the while, a warrant issued by Squire Miller to arrest Holden, which
he now most heartily wished he had never burnt his fingers with.
He had heard before, the strange stories in circulation about the
Solitary, but had listened to them with only a vague feeling
of curiosity, without any personal interest therein, so that no
impression of any consequence had been made upon his mind. But now the
case was different. The matter was brought home to his own bosom. Here
was he, Constable Basset, required and commanded, "by authority of the
State of Connecticut," to arrest a man of the most violent character,
"for," said Basset to himself, "he must be a dangerous fellow, else
how would he venture to insult a whole conference? Tom Gladding's
more'n half right, and I must look sharp." Gladly would he have
abandoned the whole business, notwithstanding his cupidity was not a
little excited by the fees, but he doubted whether the sheriff, his
deputy, or any other constable would execute the warrant in his
stead; nor did any plausible excuse present itself to account for
transferring it to other hands. Thus musing, with fear and avarice
contending in his breast, he walked up the street. But it may be
necessary to tell how Basset got into the dilemma, and, in order to do
so, we must retrace our steps.

The interruption at the conference had not a little offended
Davenport. A pompous and conceited man, any slight to himself, any
failure to accord a deference he considered his due, he felt sensibly
as an injury; much more, then, an open defiance and direct attack.
That Holden or any one should have the hardihood, before an assemblage
of his friends and acquaintances, to interrupt him and load him with
reproaches, wounded his self love to the quick, and he fancied it
would affect his reputation and influence in the community were the
offence to be passed over without notice. He therefore resolved that
something should be done to punish the offender, though unwilling to
appear himself in the matter, as that might expose his motives; and
all the way home, his mind was engrossed with schemes to accomplish
his purpose. It was little attention, then, he be stowed upon the
"good gracious" and "massy on us" of his better half, as, with
indignation becoming the provocation, she kept herself warm, and
shortened the way. But, notwithstanding, he was forced to hear them,
and they affected him like so many little stings to urge him t