'
'Go on before, landlord, and show the way,' said Lord George Gordon; 'we
will follow at a footpace.'
'If you'll give me leave, my lord,' said John Grueby, in a low voice,
'I'll change my proper place, and ride before you. The looks of the
landlord's friend are not over honest, and it may be as well to be
cautious with him.'
'John Grueby is quite right,' interposed Mr Gashford, falling back
hastily. 'My lord, a life so precious as yours must not be put in peril.
Go forward, John, by all means. If you have any reason to suspect the
fellow, blow his brains out.'
John made no answer, but looking straight before him, as his custom
seemed to be when the secretary spoke, bade Hugh push on, and followed
close behind him. Then came his lordship, with Mr Willet at his bridle
rein; and, last of all, his lordship's secretary--for that, it seemed,
was Gashford's office.
Hugh strode briskly on, often looking back at the servant, whose horse
was close upon his heels, and glancing with a leer at his bolster
case of pistols, by which he seemed to set great store. He was a
square-built, strong-made, bull-necked fellow, of the true English
breed; and as Hugh measured him with his eye, he measured Hugh,
regarding him meanwhile with a look of bluff disdain.
Pages:
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470