Part 24 (1/2)
springy as could be, could clear a pike gate like a wild cat I'll bet. I didn't like the scoundrel's phizog and I'll swear he didn't want to know for naught what time the London coach pa.s.sed the George. I wouldn't wonder if he was hanging about Smallbury Green at this 'ere very minute.
But don't 'ee let the young leddy know this. She might be afeared, an'
after all I may be wrong.”
Stephen nodded.
”The High Toby gen'elmen are gettin' monstrous darin'. I'm told as they've been stickin' up bills on the park gates of the Quality a-warnin' their lords.h.i.+ps not to travel with less than ten guineas in their pocket an' a gold watch an' chain, on pain o' death. What think 'ee o' that for downright brazenness?”
Stephen could only raise his hands deprecatingly, but as Lavinia was drawing near him he made no reply.
”I've booked my seat,” said she, ”so please don't stay any longer. I'm quite safe now and all I have to do is to wait for the coach. Thank you kindly for coming with me.”
”Ye're quite welcome, miss. I don't know as I can be of more sarvice, so I'll get back to Twitenham. I wish 'ee a pleasant journey to London.”
Lavinia again thanked him, Stephen departed and Lavinia prepared herself to exercise what patience she possessed. And well she needed patience for it was past eight and quite dark before the coach appeared at little more than a walking pace. Then the horses had to be changed, the coachman roundly anathematising the sinning jibber as the brute was led in disgrace to the stables; the pa.s.sengers descended to refresh themselves and so nearly another hour was wasted.
At last all was ready. Lavinia had booked an inside place and found that her only fellow pa.s.senger was a gouty old gentleman who had been taking the waters at Bath. The outside pa.s.sengers were but few, a woman and a couple of men.
Hounslow was left behind and in due time they entered the road across Smallbury Green, beyond which was Brentford. The travelling was very bad and the coach on its leather hangings swung about in all directions. The conversation--if conversation it could be called--consisted of fragmentary e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns of mingled pain and annoyance from the old gentleman when his gouty foot was jerked against some part of the coach.
They had not pa.s.sed over the Green when the clatter of a galloping horse was heard and almost immediately the coach was pulled up.
”Body o' me,” cried the old gentleman in dismay. ”What's happened?”
He had an answer in a very few seconds. A big pistol, its barrel gleaming in the moonlight, was thrust through the coach window and behind the pistol was a masked horseman.
”A thousand apologies for putting your lords.h.i.+p to such inconvenience,”
growled the highwayman with affected humility. ”I'm sure your lords.h.i.+p has too much sense not to perceive the force of an argument which you will own is entirely on my side.”
And he advanced the muzzle of the pistol a little nearer the head of the old gentleman and then came an unpleasant click.
”What d'ye want, you scoundrel?” stammered the victim.
”Nay, a little more politeness, if you please. I simply want your watch and chain, the rings on your fingers and any money you may chance to have about you--gold in preference. Permit me to add that if you don't turn out your pockets before I count ten I shall put a bullet in your skull first and do the searching myself afterwards.”
This command, uttered in fierce threatening tones, brought the unlucky gentleman from Bath to book at once. Trembling, he turned out his pockets and a number of guineas fell beside him on the seat. The highwayman grabbed them at once.
”Your lords.h.i.+p is most generous and complaisant. Now for your trinkets.
Quick! Time is of great importance.”
All the valuables the old gentleman possessed were yielded and pocketted rapidly by the highwayman.
”Thanks, my lord, for a most agreeable interview. I trust your lords.h.i.+p will reach your journey's end without further mishap.”
Then to Lavinia's terror the highwayman turned towards her. She shrank into her corner of the coach.
”Pray don't be alarmed, madam. I never rob women unless they tempt me very much. Some are so foolish as to wear all the gewgaws they possess.
But you have more sense I see. Yet a diamond would vastly set off the whiteness of that pretty little hand. Your gallant must be very dull not to have ornamented your charming fingers.”
In spite of the man's fair words Lavinia's terror was not diminished.
His eyes glinted savagely through the holes of his mask and a mocking note in his raucous voice plainly sounded an insincerity. Apart from this there was something in his voice which was strangely, disagreeably familiar, but she was too agitated just then to try to trace the a.s.sociation.