“In the second rode Lord Rochfort’s brother, and a few friends.
“Now, I had sent up the road for two of my men whose business it was in some way to stop or retard the progress of the second coach.
“This they managed to do, and very cleverly indeed.”
“How?” asked many.
“When the bride’s coach approached the cross roads we changed the finger boards.
“The driver followed their painted directions, and instead of going by the main read turned short into the forest carriage way.
“Before the mistake could be rectified, I had the gates closed after them, and thus they could not return.
“Meanwhile, however, those whom I had posted up the road had suddenly thrown a lasso round the horses’ legs, and down they tumbled carriages and all.
“My comrades then, before the nobleman inside could get out of the half-smashed carriage, jumped into the middle of the road, cut the traces, and vaulting on the backs of the horses galloped away, leaving the travellers in the mud, cursing and swearing most lustily.
“They dashed down the road and soon joined me, for I was at that moment engaged with the hinder carriage.