My lady's head was bowed but the Sergeant saw that the hand grasping the whip was trembling and when she spoke her voice was unsteady also:
"I—I'm glad you—told me, Sergeant. I—O I must see him! Get him home again—into the orchard. I—must speak with him—soon!"
"But mam, he's set on riding to Inchbourne—means to look over the cottages as Jennings has let go to rack and ruin, and when he's set on doing a thing he'll—do it."
"He ran away at sight of me, Sergeant?"
"He did so, mam, by reason of the black art and——"
"And he shall run away again—I'll ride to Inchbourne ahead of you and frighten him back home——"
"Zounds!" exclaimed the Sergeant.
"And when he reaches home contrive to get him into the orchard——"
"Zooks!" exclaimed the Sergeant.
Here Mr. Dalroyd, who had been chatting with the Marquis hard by but with his gaze ever upon my lady's lissom figure, urged his horse up to them.