"To that hunting-lodge," said Sir Nicholas through his teeth. "We shall leave the wrong lady in the spinney. I do not think they will look for her there in a hurry." He dumped Doña Beatrice down on the wall, climbed over, and lifted her up again. She was carried to the thicket where the horses stood, and set down in the middle of it. Sir Nicholas untied his horse and gathered the bridle in his hand. A moment he looked down at Doña Beatrice, glaring up at him. "Señora," he said, "do not repine at the discomfort of your situation. Had you been a man I should have killed you." CHAPTER XXIII The track through the forest was found, and Beauvallet's horse leaped forward under the spur. Joshua, pressing up close, looked anxiously into his master's grimly smiling face. "Master, what is it?" he said fearfully. "Don Diego has had my lady shut up in the lodge since yesterday," said Sir Nicholas curtly. Joshua's jaw dropped. He could understand now why Sir Nicholas wore his killing look. This was ill news; the very worst that could have befallen. His stupefaction passed; righteous wrath sprang up. "Ah, villain! ah, crack-hemp! If we slit not your weasand for this!" They galloped on down the track. To either side the great trees reared up, ghostly in the darkness. The road was good, a grassy ride cut through the woods. "Well for us it was, for we did not pick our way daintily, look you," says Joshua. Sir Nicholas caught his horse up on a stumble, and turned his head. "Hard-pressed now, my Joshua," he said, and shook the sword in his scabbard slightly. "In my opinion, master, there is naught new in that," said Joshua philosophically. "How many men, by your reckoning?" "Enough to do our business," said Joshua dryly. "But having dumped the fat lady in the spinney--I allow it to have been politic, upon reflection--and so shut her mouth, we may yet win clear away." "I don't think it," said Sir Nicholas calmly. "They may waste time in searching for her, but if I read this villainy aright every hilding on the estate will know where Doña Dominica lies, and send the guards hot-foot after me there." Joshua spoke in a voice of alarm. "Save you, master, save you! do you lose heart? For if that is so at last then I know we are shent." The answering laugh reassured him. "Oh chewet, do you not know when I am in fighting humour?" "I should indeed, sir," acknowledged Joshua. "I make bold to say I find you dangerous at this present. There will be broken heads and slit gullets yet." They rode on in silence, stirrup to stirrup. Presently Beauvallet spoke again. "I may have to lead the chase astray a little," he said. "Do you ride off with my lady by the north-west road to Villanova, and there await me. You mark me?" "Master, do you tell me to desert you?" said Joshua, offended. "That is not very likely."