The sound of a horse trotting towards them made the Runners drag their captive to the side of the road. The horse and rider came into sight, and the prisoner, recognizing the rider, cried: “Sir Tristram, help! Help!”
The horse seemed to bound forward as under a sudden spur. The prisoner, struggling madly, shrieked again for help, and the next instant Sir Tristram was abreast of the group, and had swung himself out of the saddle. Before the Runners could explain matters, he had taken the management of the affair into his own swift and capable hands. Mr Stubbs, starting to proclaim his calling, encountered a smashing right and left which dropped him like a log, and Mr Peabody, releasing his captive and aiming a blow at Sir Tristram with his cudgel, quite failed to find his mark, and the next moment was sprawling on the road, having been neatly thrown on Sir Tristram’s hip.
Sir Tristram paid no further heed to either of them, but took a quick stride towards the cloaked figure, saying sharply: “Are you hurt? What in heaven’s name is the meaning of this, Miss Thane?”
“Oh, I am bruised from head to foot!” shuddered Miss Thane. “These dreadful creatures set upon me with cudgels! I shall die of the shock!”
This dramatic announcement, instead of arousing Sir Tristram’s chivalrous instincts anew, made him look penetratingly at her for one moment, and say in a voice torn between amusement and exasperation: “You must be out of your mind! How dared you do such a crazy thing?”
The Runners had by this time begun to pick themselves up. Mr Stubbs, cherishing his nose, seemed a little dazed, but Mr Peabody advanced heroically, and said: “I arrest you, Ludovic Lavenham, in the name of the Law, and it will go hard with them as seeks to interfere!”
Sir Tristram released Miss Thane’s hands, which he had been holding in a sustaining manner, and replied: “You fool, this is not Ludovic Lavenham! This is a lady!”
Mr Stubbs said thickly: “It’s the abigail. It ain’t no female.”
“Oh,, don’t let them touch me!” implored Miss Thane, shrinking artistically towards Sir Tristram.
“I’ve no intention of letting them touch you, but don’t get in my way,” said Sir Tristram unromantically. “Now then, my man, perhaps you will tell me what the devil you mean by arresting this lady?”