I held my peace, and in a few moments the boy returned, with two stablemen.
"Take this fellow to the coach house," said their master.
"I'll go where you please," I cried hotly, "but if those men lay a finger on me I'll crack their skulls for them."
My height and my fierce aspect so well promised that I could perform my threat that the men held off and eyed their master dubiously.
"Lead on, Roger!" he cried with an oath, too much incensed for further speech.
The boy led the way. I followed, the two stablemen stepping behind me, but at a reasonable distance, and the horseman brought up the rear. Thus in procession we went round the house to the back; I entered the coach house, and the gentleman having dismounted, came in after me, and commanded me to give an account of myself.
[Chapter 9]: Good Samaritans.
During the short passage to the coach house I had been trying to consider my course: but my state of famishment and the agitation into which I had been thrown had bereft me of all power of consecutive thought; so that when the gentleman called upon me, in no gentle tones, to give an account of myself, I stood like a stock fish before him. Then I was amazed to feel my legs giving way under me; I stretched forth my arms in an instinctive attempt to steady myself, and, clutching at empty air, fell heavily forward on to the stone floor.
When I came to myself, I saw a kind, motherly face bending over me, and was aware of a hot taste in my mouth.
"Are you better now?" said the lady, in tones the like of which I had seldom heard.