'And if the gentleman's of the same mind, why, damme, you shall!'
As he said so, he made a snatch at her wrist, which she evaded with
horror.
I stepped between them.
'No, sir,' said I; 'the lady shall not.'
He turned on me raging. 'And who are you to interfere?' he roared.
'There is here no question of who I am,' I replied. 'I may be the
devil or the Archbishop of Canterbury for what you know, or need
know. The point is that I can help you--it appears that nobody
else can; and I will tell you how I propose to do it. I will give
the lady a seat in my chaise, if you will return the compliment by
allowing my servant to ride one of your horses.'
I thought he would have sprung at my throat.
'You have always the alternative before you: to wait here for the
arrival of papa,' I added.
And that settled him. He cast another haggard look down the road,
and capitulated.
'I am sure, sir, the lady is very much obliged to you,' he said,
with an ill grace.
I gave her my hand; she mounted like a bird into the chaise;
Rowley, grinning from ear to ear, closed the door behind us; the
two impudent rascals of post-boys cheered and laughed aloud as we
drove off; and my own postillion urged his horses at once into a
rattling trot. It was plain I was supposed by all to have done a
very dashing act, and ravished the bride from the ravisher.
Pages:
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306