Volume V Part 29 (1/2)
”If you don't get him back I will ruin you with law-suits; you had no business to let him have a horse without my orders”
”I will capture the little rascal, sir, before he has got to Ahed when he heard anted
”I would catch him up,” said he, ”even if he had four hours start You shall have hiive you two louis”
”I would catch hih he were a very lark”
He was in the saddle in five minutes, and by the rate at which he started I did not doubt his success Nevertheless I could not enjoy my dinner I felt so ashae of the world I lay down on a bed and slept till the postillion arousedin with the runaho looked half dead I said nothing to hiood rooood supper; and I told the landlord that I should hold hi as I was in his inn The postillion had caught him up at the fifth post, just before Amiens, and as he was already quite tired out the little man surrendered like a lamb
At day-break I summoned him before me, and asked him if he would come to London of his own free will or bound hand and foot
”I will coive you my word of honour; but you must let me ride on before you Otherwise, with this dress of ht that you had to give chase to me, as if I had robbed you”
”I accept your word of honour, but be careful to keep it Embrace me, and order another saddle-horse”
He h spirits, and rode in front of the carriage with Clairmont He was quite astonished to find his trunk at Calais, which he reached two hours before me
CHAPTER VII
My Arrival in London; Madame Cornelis--I Ae Circle of Acquaintance--Manners of the English
When I got to Calais I consigned my post-chaise to the care of the landlord of the inn, and hired a packet There was only one available for a private party, there being another for public use at six francs apiece I paid six guineas in advance, taking care to get a proper receipt, for I knew that at Calais a man finds himself in an aard position if he is unable to support his claiot all s on board, and I ordered my supper The landlord told ive e for ave iven him of louis I wanted him to take the difference--four per cent--but he refused, saying that he did not allow anything when the English gave hiuineas for louis I do not knohether he found his system a profitable one on the whole, but it was certainly so forCount d'Aranda, to whoned, but proud of having givenpost We were just going to sit down at table, well pleased with one another, when I heard a loud conversation in English going on near my door, and mine host came in to tell me what it was about
”It's the courier of the Duke of Bedford, the English ambassador,” said he; ”he announces the approach of hiswith the captain of the packet He says he hired the boat by letter, and that the captain had no right to let it to you The master maintains that he has received no such letter, and no one can prove that he is telling a lie”
I congratulatedtaken the packet and paid the earnest-money, and went to bed At day-break the landlord said that the aht, and that his man wanted to see me
He careat hurry to get to London, and that I should oblige hi the boat to him
I did not answer a word, but wrote a note which ran as follows:
”My lord duke may dispose of the whole of the packet, with the exception of the space necessary for e I alish ambassador”
The valet took the note, and returned to thank me on behalf of his master, who stipulated, however, that he should be allowed to pay for the packet
”Tell him that it is out of the question, as the boat is paid for already”
”He will give you the six guineas”
”Tell your ain”