“Now, we must hasten,” said he, stepping into the hall.
They passed silently through the house, down the steps, and into the court-yard. Lord Elliot walked hastily on, followed by the wondering nurse. He stopped at the stable door, calling loudly upon the coachman to get up and prepare the horses. At twelve o’clock the coachman was to go for his mistress; he was therefore dressed, and had only laid down for a short nap.
“Put the horses to the carriage,” repeated Lord Elliot.
The coachman, raising his lamp, threw a full glare of light upon the stranger.
“I do not know you,” said he, roughly; “I receive orders from no one but my mistress.”
For answer, Lord Elliot drew from his breast a pocket pistol.
“If you are not ready in five minutes, I will shoot you through the head,” said Lord Elliot, quietly, tapping the trigger.
“For God’s sake, obey him, John,” cried the nurse; “it is his excellency Lord Elliot!”
In five minutes the carriage was ready, owing much more to the loaded pistol still in Lord Elliot’s hand than to the conviction that this strange, angry-looking man was his master.
“To the depot!” cried Lord Elliot, placing the child and nurse in the carriage, then jumping in after them—“to the depot in all haste!”