heard my lord sir said the man sitting like a statue on his horse and do not you say amen likewise to which john made no reply at all but sat looking straight before him you surprise me said the gentleman at a crisis like the present when queen elizabeth that maiden monarch within her tomb and bloody mary with a brow of gloom and shadow oh sir cried the man where s the use of talking of bloody mary under such circumstances as the present when my lord s wet through and tired with hard riding let s either go on to london sir or put up at once or that bloody mary will have more to answer for � and she s done a deal more harm in her grave than she ever did in her lifetime i believe by this time mr who had never heard so many words spoken together at one time or delivered with and emphasis as by the long gentleman and whose brain being wholly unable to sustain or compass them had quite given itself up for lost recovered so far as to observe that there was ample accommodation at the for all the party good beds neat excellent entertainment for man and beast private rooms for large or small parties dinners dressed upon the shortest notice choice and a lock up coach house and in short to run oyer such scraps of language as were painted up on various portions of the building and which in the course of some forty years he had learnt to repeat with tolerable he was considering whether it was at all possible to any no el sentences to the same purpose when the gentleman who had spoken first turning to him of the long wind exclaimed what say you shall we at this house he speaks of or press forward you shall decide i would submit my lord then returned the person he appealed to in a tone that your health and spirits � so important under providence to our great cause our pure and cause � here his pulled off his hat again though it was hard � require refreshment and repose go on before landlord and show the way said lord george we will at a l� you give me leave my lord said john in a low voice i change my proper place and ride before you the looks of the landlord s friend are not over honest and it may be as well to be cautious with him john is quite right interposed mr fi back hastily my lord a life so precious as yours must not be put in peril go forward john by all means if you have any reason to suspect the blow his brains out john made no answer but looking straight before him as his custom seemed to be when the secretary spoke bade push on and dose behind him then came his with mr at his bridle rein and last of au his s secretary � for that it seemed was s office strode briskly on often looking back at the servant whose horse was close upon his heels and glancing with a at his case of pistols by which he seemed to set great store he was a square built strong made fellow of the true english breed and as measured him with his eye he measured regarding him meanwhile with a look of bluff disdain he was much older than the man being to all appearance � and forty but was one of those self possessed hard headed fellows who if they ever are beat at or other kind of warfare never know it and go on coolly till they win k i led you wrong now said you d � ha ha ha � you d shoot me through the head i suppose john took no more notice of this remark than if ho had been deaf and dumb but kept riding on quite comfortably with his eyes fixed on the horizon did you ever try a fall with a man when you were young master said can you make any play at john looked at him sideways with the same contented air but not a word in answer � like this said giving his one of those skilful in which the rustic of that time delighted � or that returned john beating down his guard with his whip and striking him on the head with its butt end yes i played a little once you wear your hair too long i should have cracked your crown if it had been a little shorter it was a pretty smart loud sounding rap as it was and evidently astonished who for the moment seemed disposed to drag his new acquaintance from his saddle his neither malice triumph rage nor any lingering idea that he had given him offence his eyes gazing steadily in the old direction and his manner being as careless and composed as if he had merely brushed away a fly was so puzzled and so disposed to look upon him as a customer of almost supernatural that he merely laughed and cried well done then off a little led the way in silence before ike lapse of many minutes the party halted at the door lord george and his secretary quickly gave their horses to their servant who under the guidance of repaired to the stables glad to escape from the of the night they followed mr into the common room and stood warming themselves and drying their clothes before the cheerful fire while he busied himself with such orders and preparations as his guest s high quality required as he in and out of the room intent on these arrangements he had an opportunity of observing the two travellers of whom as yet he knew nothing but the voice the lord the great personage who did the so much honour 