“You will understand,” said the latter, addressing himself to the new comers, “that he attacked me in a violent manner without any reasonable excuse. I never saw the fellow before in my life――have had no quarrel with him until he chose to abuse and assault me, and I desire you to distinctly understand that what I have done has been only in the way of self-defence.” “Why, he’s big enough to eat ’ee,” observed one of the men, “and ought to be ashamed on himself.” “Go on,” exclaimed Giles, “hit a man when he be down, it’s the way wi’ ’ee all.” “You’re simply a blundering fool, and ought to have a month or two on the mill to tame ye,” cried Peace. “I’m not at all certain that you didn’t intend to rob me.” “Ah, no, he aint one of that sort. Don’t ’ee think that, sir,” returned the other rustic. “Well, I hope I’m mistaken. Let it pass. I am mistaken, put it in that way, and so good night.” With these last words, Peace proceeded on his way, and in a few minutes afterwards was safely ensconced in the snug parlour of Bricket’s hostelry. When the time came for the regular frequenters of the establishment to arrive, the topic of conversation was the encounter we have briefly described. The man Giles was an ill-tempered, overbearing fellow, who was not liked by the village folk, and his discomfiture at the hands of Peace was deemed a good joke by most of them. The only wonder was with them all, that such a slight-built little fellow could have secured so easy a conquest, and, as a natural consequence, Peace was the hero of the hour. It was not the first time he had made use of his head as a weapon of defence. It was a trick he had learnt in early youth――a trick he never forgot. He had, as we have already seen, great coolness and self-possession when in any situation of danger. He was always remarkably active and quick in his movements. His victory over the village athlete was more attributable to the swiftness and suddenness of his attacks than aught else. The countryman was as strong as an ox, but he was slow and awkward, and was knocked out of time by his agile and cunning adversary before he had time to recover from his first surprise. Peace was received by the company in the parlour in a way which was most friendly and flattering――indeed he seemed to be a special favourite with the frequenters of the “Carved Lion,” and of course he took good care to make himself as agreeable as possible. He told a number of amusing stories, played his violin, and was a sort of oracle in the old hostelry. Bricket was greatly pleased with him since he drew customers to his house, being, indeed, a sort of “lion” for a time. CHAPTER XXII. PEACE’S BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS――A VISITOR FROM THE HALL. For some days after the incidents which have been chronicled in the preceding chapter, our hero was actively employed in search of fresh customers. He was by no means unsuccessful, for in a short time he had contrived to obtain a very fair connection.