As soon as the braces had been stripped from his wounded arm, and the semi-surgeon of his troop having stemmed its bleeding, had placed it in a sling, he forsook the spot where he had fallen; and walked direct towards the place occupied by Sir Marmaduke and his friends.
The ladies had already taken their departure—the sanguinary incident having robbed them of all zest for the enjoyment of any further sports.
The knight had remained upon the ground—chiefly for the purpose of discovering the object of Captain Scarthe’s presence in his park.
He was determined no longer to remain in ignorance as to the cause of the intrusion; and was about starting out to question the intruder himself, when the approach of the latter admonished him to keep his place.
From Scarthe’s looks, as he came forward, it was evident that an éclaircissement was at hand.
Sir Marmaduke remained silent—leaving the stranger to commence the colloquy, which was now inevitable.
As soon as Scarthe had got within speaking distance, he demanded, in an authoritative tone, whether Sir Marmaduke Wade was present upon the ground.
The interrogatory was addressed to the rustics standing upon the sward below.
They, perceiving that Sir Marmaduke had himself heard it, kept silence—not knowing whether their host might desire an affirmative answer to be given.
The tone of impertinence prevented Sir Marmaduke from replying; and the interrogatory was repeated.