But the horses in the hack were the fresher of the two sets, and they kept well up behind her carriage until they reached the gate of the private road leading through Cedarwood.
Here Leo drew up his carriage, left his seat, opened the gate, propped it back, and took the reins to lead his horses through.
They had but just cleared the gate, when Drusilla put her head from the window and said, hastily:
“Leo, stop just where you are! stop the way! Those persons are preparing to follow us in. Tell them that they can not be permitted to do so; that this is a very private road leading to my own house, and no farther.”
At the first word Leo had stopped the carriage, thus barring the way, and now he turned and spoke to the man who was the ringleader of the party, and who had now left his seat and was mounted beside the driver on the box.
“If you please, sir, this road leads to my mist’ess’s house and no farther on,” he said.
“Oh, we know where it leads! We are going to make a call there!” laughed the man.
“Leo, Leo, do not let them pass, whatever you do,” breathlessly whispered Drusilla.
“But, sir, if you please, my mist’ess don’t receive no strangers,” expostulated the servant.
“Oh, we are not strangers! We know her very well! And we know Lyon, too! Come, clear the way, my man, and let us pass.”