'They are an hour and a half in front of us!' Sir George cried eagerly. 'Will a guinea improve your memory?'
Ay, sir, but 'twon't make it,' the coachman answered, grinning. 'Jeremy is right. I mind no others. What will your honour want with them?'
'They have carried off a young lady!' Mr. Fishwick cried shrilly. 'Sir George's kinswoman!'
'To be sure?' ejaculated the driver, amid a murmur of astonishment; and the crowd which had grown since their arrival pressed nearer to listen. 'Where from, sir, if I may make so bold?'
'From the Castle at Marlborough.'
Dear me, dear me, there is audaciousness, if you like! And you ha' followed them so far, sir?'
Sir George nodded and turned to the crowd. 'A guinea for news!' he cried. 'Who saw them go through Chippenham!'
He had not long to wait for the answer. 'They never went through Chipnam!' a thick voice hiccoughed from the rear of the press.
'They came this way out of Calne,' Sir George retorted, singling the speaker out, and signing to the people to make way that he might get at him.
'Ay, but they never--came to Chipnam,' the fellow answered, leering at him with drunken wisdom. 'D'you see that, master?'