"What did you see?" she asked.
"Nothing, but I was afraid, I could not bear to lose you now."
"You saw nothing?"
"Nothing."
"And heard nothing?"
"Nothing. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, Amor, I thought I saw the shadow of a man on horseback."
"Fancy, my sweet, fancy." Then, with a sinking fear, he remembered he had told Mother Mawhood of the pearls. He called to mind the postboys' insolence, the look that passed between Charlie and Dickie when he told them he would ride in the chariot. He sprang in alarm to open the window, but the carriage pulled up with a jerk which flung him back against Phyllida. The glass crashed to the heavy butt of a pistol and, as he stretched out for his own fire-arms, he saw the postboys resting long barrels on the sill and, by the lamp which one of them held, a masked face that with thick brutal voice demanded their money.
"Hand 'em over."
"Hand what over?" said Vernon, in a futile attempt to delay his humiliation.