"Out of the way, John Stich," shouted the Sergeant, peremptorily, "this is not your forge, remember, and by G—— I’ll not be tricked again." "Those are her ladyship’s private rooms," retorted the smith, without yielding one inch of the ground. "Landlord," he shouted at the top of his voice, "I call upon you to protect her ladyship from these ruffians." "You insult His Majesty’s uniform," quoth the Sergeant, briefly, "and do yourself no good, smith. As for the landlord of this inn, he interferes ’tween me and my duty at his peril." "But by what right do you interfere with me, Master Sergeant?" here interposed Lady Patience, trying to assume an indifferent air of calm haughtiness. "Do you know who I am?" "Aye! that I do, my lady!" responded the Sergeant, gruffly, "and that’s what’s brought me here this morning. Not half an hour ago I heard that Lady Patience Gascoyne was staying at the Packhorse, and now the folks say that a new serving-man came to give a helping hand here. He arrived in the middle of the night, it seems. Strange time for a serving-man to turn up, ain’t it?" "I know nothing of any servant at this inn, and I order you at once to withdraw your men, and not to dare further to molest me." "Your pardon, my lady, but my orders is my orders: I have been sent here by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland hisself to hunt out all the rebels who are in hiding in these parts. I’ve strict orders to be on the lookout for Philip James Gascoyne, Earl of Stretton, who, I understand, is your ladyship’s own brother, and as I’ve a right o’ search, I mean to see who else is staying in those rooms upstairs besides your ladyship." "This is an outrage, Sergeant!" "Maybe, my lady," he retorted drily, "but with us soldiers orders is orders, saving your presence. I was tricked at the smithy, and again on the Heath. My belief is that we were hunting a bogey last night, There may or mayn’t be any highwayman called Beau Brocade, but there was a fine young gallant at the forge the day afore yesterday, who did for me and my men, and I’ll take my oath that he was none other than the rebel, Philip Gascoyne, Earl of Stretton." "’Tis false and you talk like a madman, Sergeant." "Maybe! but your ladyship’ll please stand aside until I’ve searched those rooms upstairs, or I’ll have to order my men to lay hands on your ladyship. Now then, John Stich, stand aside in the name of the King!" John Stich did not move, and Lady Patience still stood defiant and haughty at the foot of the stairs. The villagers, stolid and stupid, were staring open-mouthed, not daring to interfere. But of course it was only a question of seconds, the worthy smith could not guard the staircase for long against the Sergeant and a dozen soldiers, and in any case nothing would be of any avail. Philip in the room upstairs was trapped like a fox in its lair, and nothing could save him now from falling into the soldiers’ hands.