“No, dash it, ma’am, can’t have known it!” Ferdy expostulated, much moved by the stricken look on his cousin’s face. “Sherry, dear old boy! Depend upon it, all a hum! Kitten wouldn’t go hugging fellows in masks! Might kiss George, but not a fellow in a mask! Wretched Tiger of yours has shot the cat!”
Sherry shook his head dumbly. Jason said: “I ain’t shot the cat! What’s more, I loped after that rattler — ah, right through the town, I did, and I know the road that leery cove took, and it ain’t the road what leads to his own ken, neither! Gone off with the missus on the Radstock road what leads to Wells, he has, but he won’t get far, not if I know it, he won’t!”
Sherry raised his head. “Why won’t he?”
“Acos I forked the cove while he was a-waiting for the missus,” said Jason sulkily. He added in a defensive tone: “You never telled me not to fork that cull, guv’nor, and if he’s a friend of yourn it’s the first I heard of it!”
Sherry was regarding him intently. “What did you steal from him? Come, I’m not angry with you! Answer me!”
Jason sniffed, and reluctantly produced from the breast of his jacket a bulging wallet, and a purse with a ring about its neck, both of which he handed over to his master. The wallet was found to contain, besides a handsome number of banknotes, a special marriage licence, and several visiting cards, inscribed with Mr Tarleton’s name and direction; and the purse held some guinea and half-guinea pieces.
Sherry restored the notes to the wallet with a shaking hand. “He may have some loose coins in his pockets, but you are right!” he said. “He won’t get beyond the first stage, if he’s travelling with hired horses. He doesn’t know the truth: he thinks she is free to marry him, of course. You are positive he took the Radstock road, Jason?”
“Take my dying oath he did!” responded the Tiger.
“Wedding at Wells — yes, very likely! Get my curricle round to the door as quick as you can now! Off with you!”
“Anthony!” intoned the dowager, rising from her chair as Jason sped on his errand. “Will you not listen to your Mother? Do you need further proof of that wicked girl’s — ”