"What is this?" said I loudly. "Hands off, sirrah! Do you dare arrest an innocent man? Who is in authority here, and what's his foolish name?" said I.
At that the short man came forward, and I saw that he wore a long gown edged with some sort of fleece. "Who are you?" I asked, assuming the most haughty, arrogant air, "and under what pretence is a gentleman that is on the King's business arrested and delayed?"
"Sir," he said, hesitating, "I am Mayor of the town, and 'tis at her ladyship's request—"
"I know nothing of her ladyship," said I, interrupting angrily. "If her ladyship blunders, and you through her, you must take the consequence, Mr Mayor."
He seemed put about at that, but my lady herself intervened, or I would have managed things for myself pretty easily.
"I charge that man with stealing from me jewels and money to the amount of five hundred guineas, which you will find upon him," said she, for she was now out of the coach and standing in the road among them all.
"Yes, your ladyship," says the Mayor anxiously, "it shall be attended to."
"Well, someone shall smart for this," said I, "ere many days are out."
"And my witness," pursued her ladyship calmly, "sits in the coach, and is my late husband's niece."