Part 36 (1/2)
”I proan
”What care I for your proo after her and bring her back”
”You shall not,” he insisted, gripping her reeted their ears
”Marry, 'tis vastly diverting to hear you,” it said They looked round, to find one of the party of town sparks that had halted at the inn standing ar for theht, sir,” said he sardonically to the landlord ”A wondrous touching sight to behold a ood wife like the rieves h if you'll but let me pass you ive you my word I'll never look behind me”
Abashed, the landlord and his daentleman could pass her, Mistress Quinn, like a true opportunist, sped swiftly down the passage and into the coain detain her
Noithin the common room of the Suffolk Arms Sir Crispin sat face to face with a very pretty fellow, all entlemen on their way to London who had halted to rest at Stafford
The pretty gentleman swore lustily, affected aall who stood about with some conceit of the rakehelly ways he pursued in town
A game started with crowns to while away the tediurown to monstrous proportions Fortune had favoured the youth at first, but as the stakes grew her favours to him diminished, and at the moment that Cynthia rode out of the inn-yard, Mr
Harry Foster flung his last gold piece with an oath upon the table
”Rat roaned, ”there's the end of a hundred”
He toyed sorrowfully with the red ribbon in his black hair, and Crispin, seeing that no fresh stake was forthco, made shi+ft to rise But the coxcomb detained him
”Tarry, sir,” he cried, ”I've not yet done 'Slife, we'll er, and with a superb gesture of disdain pushed it across the board
”What'll ye stake?” And, in the same breath, ”Boy, another stoup,” he cried
Crispin eyed the gem carelessly
”Twenty Caroluses,” he muttered
”Rat me, sir, that nose of yours proclaims you a jeithout more Say twenty-five, and I'll cast”
With a tolerant s of a man to whom twenty-five or a hundred are of like account, Crispin consented They threw; Crispin passed and won
”What'll ye stake?” cried Mr Foster, and a second ring followed the first
Before Crispin could reply, the door leading to the interior of the inn was flung open, and Mrs Quinn, breathless with exertion and excite across the room In the doorway stood the host in hesitancy and fear Bending to Crispin's ear, Mrs Quinn delivered her e in a whisper that was heard by most of those ere about
”Gone!” cried Crispin in consternation
The wo from this that she referred him to the host, called to him
”What know you, landlord?” he shouted ”Coone!”
”I know not,” replied the quaking host, adding the particulars of Cynthia's departure, and the inforer
”SaddleMr Foster's trinket upon the table as though it were a thing of no value ”Towards Denham you say they rode? Quick,he had won into his pockets preparing to depart