“Don't go near him, dear Thames,” said Winifred; “he may have some ill intention.”
“Pshaw!” cried Thames. “What! refuse to see a person who desires to speak with me. Say I will come to him.”
“Law! Miss,” observed the maid, “there's nothing mischievous in the person's appearance, I'm sure. He's as nice and civil-spoken a gentleman as need be; by the same token,” she added, in an under tone, “that he gave me a span new crown piece.”
“'The thief cometh in the night, and the troop of robbers spoileth without,'” said Wood, who had a text for every emergency.
“Lor' ha' mussy, Sir!—how you do talk,” said the woman; “this is no robber, I'm sure. I should have known at a glance if it was. He's more like a lord than—”
As she spoke, steps were heard approaching; the door was thrown open, and a young man marched boldly into the room.
The intruder was handsomely, even richly, attired in a scarlet riding-suit, embroidered with gold; a broad belt, to which a hanger was attached, crossed his shoulders; his boots rose above his knee, and he carried a laced hat in his hand. Advancing to the middle of the chamber, he halted, drew himself up, and fixed his dark, expressive eyes, on Thames Darrell. His appearance excited the greatest astonishment and consternation amid the group. Winifred screamed. Thames sprang to his feet, and half drew his sword, while Wood, removing his spectacles to assure himself that his eyes did not deceive him, exclaimed in a tone and with a look that betrayed the extremity of surprise—“Jack Sheppard!”
“Jack Sheppard!” echoed the maid. “Is this Jack Sheppard? Oh, la! I'm undone! We shall all have our throats cut! Oh! oh!” And she rushed, screaming, into the passage where she fell down in a fit.
The occasion of all this confusion and dismay, meanwhile, remained perfectly motionless; his figure erect, and with somewhat of dignity in his demeanour. He kept his keen eyes steadily fixed on Thames, as if awaiting to be addressed.
“Your audacity passes belief,” cried the latter, as soon as his surprise would allow him utterance. “If you have contrived to break out of your confinement, villain, this is the last place where you ought to show yourself.”