His arms fell from her and slowly, sullenly, he recoiled, watching her beneath drooping lids.
"Ah, Betty!" he sighed, "what an adorable woman you are!"
"Why then sir," said she a little tremulously but with hand and eyes steady, "you will obey me."
"'Twill be my joy, sweet Bet," he answered softly, "aye faith, my joy—when I have conquered thee——"
"Conquered?" she cried and gnashed white teeth. "No man shall do that—you least of——"
A hoarse command from the road in front, followed almost immediately by two pistol shots in rapid succession, and, lurching towards the hedge, the coach came to an abrupt standstill, ensued the stamp of horses, cries, fierce imprecations, the sounds of desperate struggling and a heavy fall. In an instant Mr. Dalroyd had snatched his other pistol, had jerked down the window and thrust out head and arms.
"What now?" he cried. "What the devil——" The words ended in a choking gasp, for the pistol was twisted from his hold and a strong hand was upon his throat; then the door was wrenched open and himself dragged into the road there to be caught and crushed in arms of steel while his hands were drawn swiftly behind him and dexterously trussed together, all in a moment.
"You!" he cried, staring into the pale, serene face of his captor and struggling against his bonds. "God, but you shall repent this outrage, I swear you——"
"The gag, Sergeant!"
"Here, sir!" And Mr. Dalroyd's vicious threats were choked to sudden silence.