"But we may be mistaken. The man may have been an ordinary highwayman."
Robert shook his head. "I don't believe there are highwaymen in this part of England."
Satisfied that the lady would be safe for the time being, Robert hurried off to the livery stable and explained matters to the proprietor.
"The horses got frightened on the road," he said, "and in saving them from going over the cliff I had to turn them into a thicket. A wheel is broken and one horse has his legs scratched."
"And who is going to foot the bill?" growled the livery stable keeper, imagining he scented trouble.
"Mrs. Vernon will pay any fair bill you may present. But she will pay no fancy price for the damage done."
"Oh, all right, I won't charge her any more than is necessary," said the man, much relieved.
He wished to know how the team had become frightened, but Robert evaded the question, for Mrs. Vernon had not given him permission to speak of the matter. Evidently the lady wished to think over it before deciding what to do.
When the young secretary returned to the boarding house he found Mrs. Vernon lying down, having taken a quieting draught. He attended to the writing of several letters, and was just finishing up when a messenger appeared from the telegraph office.
"The cablegram," said Robert, looking at the envelope.