"Well, then, you can pass," said Churchill. "Will you ride on with them, Lady Danvers?"
"Come, Ralph," said Hortensia, joyfully.
But Churchill interposed with a grave look. "I beg your pardon," he said, "but I must ask this young gentleman a few questions before he proceeds with you."
He paused, as if he expected her to go forward; but Hortensia kept her hand tight upon her bridle rein, and the general then proceeded, saying, "May I inquire who you are, sir?"
"A very unimportant personage, my lord," replied Ralph.
"Not so, I should suppose from your bearing, sir," interrupted Churchill, in a courteous tone, "though not so important as I at first believed. You are about the same height as the Duke of Monmouth; and I fancied, when first I saw you, that I had caught the bird for which we had been beating the bushes all the morning. I perceive my mistake; but may I ask your name? You must be of the court, I think; but I have not the honor of recollecting you."
"My name, sir, is Woodhall," replied Ralph, at once.
"Your Christian name?" asked Churchill.
"Ralph Woodhall," answered the young gentleman, calmly.
"Then I fear, sir," rejoined the general, "that I must request you to accompany me to my quarters, and deprive Lady Danvers for a time of the advantage of your escort. I will take care, however, that your place is properly supplied, and that she shall suffer no inconvenience."