For all my cogitations, I had settled upon nothing, and I was not only surprised but confused when there stepped out on the porch and made toward me--the clatter of his boots upon the pavement caused me to turn my head--a cavalier, whom I instantly divined to be the bearer of our evil tidings. Abstractly, I had a welcome in my heart for him such as Pharaoh of old entertained for similar messengers, and I purposed to meet him in much the same way, too; concretely, my first thought was one of pleased surprise at his appearance. He was tall, well-knit, well-bronzed, of darker skin and eyes than mine. His face was handsome in a stern and somewhat martial way. His bearing was that of a soldier and accorded well with the rich uniform he wore. I observed that he made directly to me, and, therefore, I inferred that he had come to seek me. I was annoyed at myself that I had enjoyed no more time for preparation for the meeting. I must have been deeply absorbed in my thoughts, I decided, not to have heard the clatter he made riding up to the door of the inn on the other side. I had taken off my hat--heavy, clumsy felt thing that it was!--but, as the new-comer approached, I clapped it firmly on my head and rose, resisting with difficulty a wild inclination to wrap my riding-coat about my legs like the skirt of a dress. My officer stopped a few paces from me, clapped his heels together, removed his hat with a sharp military gesture, and bowed quite gracefully before me. "Sir," said he in a firm, authoritative voice, due perhaps to his habit of command, "may I introduce myself? I am Sir Hugh Richmond, captain in the King's Guards." "My name is..." replied I, bowing in my turn, "is..." What was my name? In my hurry it had not occurred to me to fix upon any. I paused stupidly enough while the gallant captain fixed his dark eyes upon me in surprised inquiry. I blurted out the first that came into my mind. "Henry Carthew," I said. "I am glad to have the honour of your acquaintance, Mr. Carthew," continued the soldier agreeably. As he spoke, he smiled slightly. His face changed at once, and I thought, when he smiled, I had never seen a pleasanter-looking man. It was as if the real man had given a glimpse of himself behind the cloud with which habit and military discipline had shrouded him. Oh, but he was good to look on then! "The pleasure, sir, is mine. I am honoured in the acquaintance of so distinguished a soldier as Sir Hugh Richmond." Another look of surprise came to the face of the officer. "You have heard of me, sir?" he asked, not without a certain pride. "Your charge at Sedgemoor hath been told of even in Scotland." "'Twas naught," he said carelessly. "I take it, sir, that you are not a soldier?" "Only by inclination," replied I bravely. "I am contemplating service, however, and indeed, sir, 'twas for that I came hither in the hope of meeting you." "Of meeting me?"