At this moment some one must have spoken to Master Jiggins from within, for I heard him say, "The chambermaid hath it that no one is in the young stranger's bedchamber."
"Then hath he escaped. But we must find him. The town clerk hath it that ten guineas will be given to him who will lay hands on him."
"But where is the warrant for this?"
"Master Fulton's word is enough warrant, Master Jiggins. But stay, he hath a horse. Is the horse in the stable?"
At this I knew that what I did must be done quickly. I was therefore on Black Ben's back before they could enter the yard by the door of which I had been hiding while they were speaking.
"Here he is!" cried the man who had been chief spokesman, and he made a dash at the horse's head.
"At him, my boy!" I cried, and the faithful animal darted at the fellow with open mouth.
In spite of themselves the crowd made way for me as I dashed through. Partly, I suspect, because they were not sure who I was, and partly because Black Ben careered so wildly that no man dared to approach him.
"Your count, you blackguard, your count!" I heard Master Jiggins say, who evidently cared more about that than the recapturing of Mistress Constance. Indeed, I heard in after days that Master Jiggins had a warm affection for Master Leslie, and rejoiced that she had escaped from the hands of the drunken governor.
I threw him a couple of crowns as I dashed away.