'We cannot reach London to-day,' said I, looking inquiringly at my companion. I had been so happy riding along by his side that I had not realized that even the longest day comes to an end at last and night will follow. But he--he should have thought of that. 'No. Of course not. I have ascertained that Sir William Wood and Lady Caroline are staying with some friends at a house at Kingston. It is somewhere near the river. I thought that you would like to stay the night with Lady Caroline.' 'Oh, yes, I should,' I replied, cheerfully, for it was very pleasant to think of being with a gentlewoman again, after all the rough experiences I had been through. 'If only I could find the place!' exclaimed Sir Hubert. 'We shall attract observation if we go about on horseback seeking it. News will arrive here, if it has not already arrived, of what happened at Ditton, and we shall be arrested on suspicion.' 'What shall we do then?' 'Leave our horses at an inn, and take a walk along the riverside until we find the house where our friends are. I know it is a house by the river because I have been there.' I made no objection to this, and we went to an inn, where they were pleased to take our horses, as also to serve us with light refreshment, of ale and bread and cheese for Sir Hubert and milk and cake for me, after hurriedly partaking of which we went out and walked down the street. As we did so I noticed a little group of men standing near the river were regarding my companion with great curiosity, but concluded that this was due to the fine manly presence and dignified mien of Sir Hubert. It was a little startling, however, to find that, while we were searching for the house we wanted, we occasionally encountered one or another of these individuals, apparently watching us with interest. 'Those men get upon my nerves,' I said at last. 'We meet them everywhere.' Sir Hubert laughed. 'I have been thinking that the men of Kingston have a strange similarity of appearance,' he said. 'Can they possibly be the same men?' I answered, 'Yes, I am sure of it. And I do not like to see them so frequently.' 'But who is this?' exclaimed Sir Hubert with delight. It was Sir William Wood, who, coming suddenly round a corner, almost ran into my dear knight's arms. 'The very man I want!' cried he. 'You have been long in coming, Hubert, my friend!' 'And now that I am here, before we discuss anything, there is this lady, Mistress Margery Brown, to bring to a place of safety for the night. I hope Lady Caroline is at Kingston.'