“I ken it all the time,” he cried indignantly. “Ye’re a brazen hussy.”
“Landlord!” she gasped in astonishment.
“An’ ye can leave my inn,” continued John, now thoroughly aroused. “We are respectable, if ye are na.”
“Peace, fool!” she exclaimed furiously. “I am Lady Glen——” she stopped and bit her lips angrily at the indiscreet slip of her tongue. Suddenly a daring thought entered her mind. One glance at his face told her that he had not caught the name. To think was to act with my lady. Then she continued glibly, “I am Lady Nancy Gordon, daughter of the Duke of Gordon, of Gordon Castle. It will be all over town in a day,” she thought with malicious satisfaction.
John staggered back as though he had been shot. “Ye Lady Nancy?” he gasped in amazement. “Oh, my lady, I ask your pardon.”
“’Tis not easily granted, numskull,” replied the imperious beauty, her black eyes flashing dangerously. The sound of a carriage rolling over the cobble stones suddenly arrested her attention. For a moment she listened intently, then, with a startled exclamation, she turned to John and said in a frightened whisper, “’Fore heaven! if it should be my husband—my father, I mean, in pursuit of me.” She ran hastily to the window from where a view of the street could be obtained and threw open the casement.
“It would serve ye right, my lady,” said John to himself.
“Great heavens! ’tis my uncle, Sir William Creech!” she gasped. Then she said aloud, “Landlord, ’tis my father, as I feared! Oons! what a scrape I’m in.” She closed the shutter hastily.
“’Twill ruin your reputation to be found here at night, my lady,” cried John concernedly, trotting nervously to the window.
“O Lud,” she replied airily, “I’m not concerned over my reputation, ’tis already torn to ribbons by my dear friends. ’Tis my—my father’s wrath I fear. He is like to do some mischief.” An imperious knocking sounded on the door below.