'
'What do you say?' cried Mr Haredale.
'I say,' said Joe, 'first, that it was a bold thing to be in the crowd
at all disguised as one of them; though I won't say much about that, on
second thoughts, for that's my case too. Secondly, that it was a brave
and glorious action--that's what I call it--to strike that fellow off
his horse before their eyes!'
'What fellow! Whose eyes!'
'What fellow, sir!' cried Joe: 'a fellow who has no goodwill to you, and
who has the daring and devilry in him of twenty fellows. I know him of
old. Once in the house, HE would have found you, here or anywhere. The
rest owe you no particular grudge, and, unless they see you, will only
think of drinking themselves dead. But we lose time. Are you ready?'
'Quite,' said Edward. 'Put out the torch, Joe, and go on. And be silent,
there's a good fellow.'
'Silent or not silent,' murmured Joe, as he dropped the flaring link
upon the ground, crushed it with his foot, and gave his hand to Mr
Haredale, 'it was a brave and glorious action;--no man can alter that.'
Both Mr Haredale and the worthy vintner were too amazed and too much
hurried to ask any further questions, so followed their conductors
in silence.
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