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friend！'
'The point is： the horses；' said I。
'Well；' said he； consulting his watch； 'it's now gone the 'alf
after eight。 What time do you want her at the door？'
'Horses and all？' said I。
''Osses and all！' says he。 'One good turn deserves another。 You
give me seventy pound for the shay； and I'll 'oss it for you。 I
told you I didn't MAKE 'osses； but I CAN make 'em； to oblige a
friend。'
What would you have？ It was not the wisest thing in the world to
buy a chaise within a dozen miles of my uncle's house； but in this
way I got my horses for the next stage。 And by any other it
appeared that I should have to wait。 Accordingly I paid the money
down … perhaps twenty pounds too much； though it was certainly a
well…made and well…appointed vehicle … ordered it round in half an
hour； and proceeded to refresh myself with breakfast。
The table to which I sat down occupied the recess of a bay…window；
and commanded a view of the front of the inn； where I continued to
be amused by the successive departures of travellers … the fussy
and the offhand； the niggardly and the lavish … all exhibiting
their different characters in that diagnostic moment of the
farewell： some escorted to the stirrup or the chaise door by the
chamberlain； the chambermaids and the waiters almost in a body；
others moving off under a cloud； without human countenance。 In the
course of this I became interested in one for whom this ovation
began to assume the proportions of a triumph； not only the under…
servants； but the barmaid； the landlady； and my friend the
postmaster himself； crowding about the steps to speed his
departure。 I was aware； at the same time； of a good deal of
merriment； as though the traveller were a man of a ready wit； and
not too dignified to air it in that society。 I leaned forward with
a lively curiosity； and the next moment I had blotted myself behind
the teapot。 The popular traveller had turned to wave a farewell；
and behold！ he was no other than my cousin Alain。 It was a change
of the sharpest from the angry； pallid man I had seen at Amersham
Place。 Ruddy to a fault； illuminated with vintages； crowned with
his curls like Bacchus； he now stood before me for an instant； the
perfect master of himself； smiling with airs of conscious
popularity and insufferable condescension。 He reminded me at once
of a royal duke； or an actor turned a little elderly； and of a
blatant bagman who should have been the illegitimate son of a
gentleman。 A moment after he was gliding noiselessly on the road
to London。
I breathed again。 I recognised； with heartfelt gratitude； how
lucky I had been to go in by the stable…yard instead of the
hostelry door； and what a fine occasion of meeting my cousin I had
lost by the purchase of the claret…coloured chaise！ The next
moment I remembered that there was a waiter present。 No doubt but
he must have observed me when I crouched behind the breakfast
equipage； no doubt but he must have commented on this unusual and
undignified behaviour； and it was essential that I should do
something to remove the impression。
'Waiter！' said I； 'that was the nephew of Count Carwell that just
drove off； wasn't it？'
'Yes； sir： Viscount Carwell we calls him；' he replied。
'Ah； I thought as much；' said I。 'Well； well； damn all these
Frenchmen； say I！'
'You may say so indeed； sir；' said the waiter。 'They ain't not to
say in the same field with our 'ome…raised gentry。'
'Nasty tempers？' I suggested。
'Beas'ly temper； sir； the Viscount 'ave；' said the waiter with
feeling。 'Why； no longer agone than this morning； he was sitting
breakfasting and reading in his paper。 I suppose； sir； he come on
some pilitical information； or it might be about 'orses； but he
raps his 'and upon the table sudden and calls for curacoa。 It gave
me quite a turn； it did； he did it that sudden and 'ard。 Now； sir；
that may be manners in France； but hall I can say is； that I'm not
used to it。'
'Reading the paper； was he？' said I。 'What paper； eh？'
'Here it is； sir；' exclaimed the waiter。 'Seems like as if he'd
dropped it。'
And picking it off the floor he presented it to me。
I may say that I was quite prepared； that I already knew what to
expect； but at sight of the cold print my heart stopped beating。
There it was： the fulfilment of Romaine's apprehension was before
me； the paper was laid open at the capture of Clausel。 I felt as
if I could take a little curacoa myself； but on second thoughts
called for brandy。 It was badly wanted； and suddenly I observed
the waiter's eye to sparkle； as it were； with some recognition；
made certain he had remarked the resemblance between me and Alain；
and became aware … as by a revelation … of the fool's part I had
been playing。 For I had now managed to put my identification
beyond a doubt； if Alain should choose to make his inquiries at
Aylesbury； and； as if that were not enough； I had added； at an
expense of seventy pounds； a clue by which he might follow me
through the length and breadth of England； in the shape of the
claret…coloured chaise！ That elegant equipage （which I began to
regard as little better than a claret…coloured ante…room to the
hangman's cart） coming presently to the door； I left my breakfast
in the middle and departed； posting to the north as diligently as
my cousin Alain was posting to the south； and putting my trust
（such as it was） in an opposite direction and equal speed。
CHAPTER XXII … CHARACTER AND ACQUIREMENTS OF MR。 ROWLEY
I AM not certain that I had ever really appreciated before that
hour the extreme peril of the adventure on which I was embarked。
The sight of my cousin； the look of his face … so handsome； so
jovial at the first sight； and branded with so much malignity as
you saw it on the second … with his hyperbolical curls in order；
with his neckcloth tied as if for the conquests of love； setting
forth （as I had no doubt in the world he was doing） to clap the Bow
Street runners on my trail； and cover England with handbills； each
dangerous as a loaded musket； convinced me for the first time that
the affair was no less serious than death。 I believe it came to a
near touch whether I should not turn the horses' heads at the next
stage and make directly for the coast。 But I was now in the
position of a man who should have thrown his gage into the den of
lions； or； better still； like one who should have quarrelled
overnight under the influence of wine； and now； at daylight； in a
cold winter's morning； and humbly sober； must make good his words。
It is not that I thought any the less； or any the less warmly； of
Flora。 But； as I smoked a grim segar that morning in a corner of
the chaise； no doubt I considered； in the first place； that the
letter…post had been invented； and admitted privately to myself； in
the second； that it would have been highly possible to write her on
a piece of paper； seal it； and send it skimming by the mail；
instead of going personally into these egregious dangers； and
through a country that I beheld crowded with gibbets and Bow Street
officers。 As for Sim and Candlish； I doubt if they crossed my
mind。
At the Green Dragon Rowley was waiting on the doorsteps with the
luggage； and really was bursting with unpalatable conversation。
'Who do you think we've 'ad 'ere； sir？' he began breathlessly； as
the chaise drove off。 'Red Breasts'； and he nodded his head
portentously。
'Red Breasts？' I repeated； for I stupidly did not understand at the
moment an expression I had often heard。
'Ah！' said he。 'Red weskits。 Runners。 Bow Street runners。 Two
on' em； and one was Lavender himself！ I hear the other say quite
plain； 〃Now； Mr。 Lavender； IF you're ready。〃 They was breakfasting
as nigh me as I am to that postboy。 They're all right； they ain't
after us。 It's a forger； and I didn't send them off on a false
scent … O no！ I thought there was no use in having them over our
way； so I give them 〃very valuable information；〃 Mr。 Lavender said；
and tipped me a tizzy for myself； and they're off to Luton。 They
showed me the 'andcuffs； too … the other one did … and he clicked
the dratted things on my wrist； and I tell you； I believe I nearly
went off in a swound！ There's something so beastly in the feel of
them！ Begging your pardon； Mr。 Anne；' he added； with one of his
delicious changes from the character of the confidential schoolboy
into that of the trained； respectful servant。
Well； I must not be proud！ I cannot say I found the subject of
handcuffs to my fancy； and it was with more asperity than was
needful that I reproved him for the slip about the name。
'Yes； Mr。 Ramornie；' says he； touching his hat。 'Begging your
pardon； Mr。 Ramornie。 But I'