"Good," I cried, thinking what a quick-witted girl she was. "You are a clever maid, Amelia." "I ain't a-lived 'mong the Killigrews for nothin'!" she said; "besides I'd do anything for Mistress Nancy." Her mistress did not speak, but I noted the look she gave her. "He es still follin'," continued Amelia; "we shall 'ave to do summin zoon. What time es et, I wonder?" "About nine o'clock, I expect," I replied. "Ah! yonder is light. I wonder if it is a kiddleywink?" "Why?" asked Mistress Nancy. "I hope it is," I replied, for at that moment a plan flashed through my mind. A few minutes later we rode up to a little hamlet consisting of four houses, one of which was a public house. "We will dismount here," I said. "To what purpose?" asked Mistress Nancy. "I have a plan in my mind," I replied. "But if we stop here Clement will act." "So will I." She spoke no word but dismounted, while I called the landlord. "Have you stabling for three horses?" I asked when he appeared. "Jist," was his reply. "And a room into which these ladies can go; a private room?" "Aw, iss, sur. Ther's the pa'lor. They ca' go in theer." "Very well." I quickly saw them in the room, and having ordered refreshments for them I left. I felt as though Mistress Nancy did not desire my company, and I determined not to force it upon her. Then I hurried to the stables, where the three horses had been put. "Have you a lock to the stable door?" I asked of the man who had taken care of the horses. "Law no, sur; we doan't want no locks. Ther's jist a hasp to kip the door from blawin' open." "Are there no highwaymen or horse-stealers in these parts?" "We ain't a 'ad a 'oss stailed for 'ears," was the reply. "Well, keep your eye on that stable," I said sternly. "If anything happens to those horses, you'll be hanged." "I'll mind, sur," replied the man; "nobody shall tich 'em. Nobody shall go into the stable but me;" and I knew by the look of dogged determination on his face that he meant what he said. At this moment I heard the clatter of hoofs, and I hurried into the house. I saw the landlord go to the door, and heard him say to the horseman: "No sur, you can't stable yer 'oss. A party 'ave jist come, sur, and I've only room for dree 'osses." "Well, all right," said Clement Killigrew in tones scarcely above a whisper, "fasten him here to the crook at the door, 'twill be just as well. I suppose I can have a bottle of wine. By the way, do not let the other party know I have come here." "No, sur, I wa'ant let em knaw, but I a'ant got no wine. A jug of good ale, sur." "All right, that will do;" then he said something in low tones to the landlord, which I did not hear. "All right, sur," I heard the innkeeper say in reply. "I'll 'tend to et, sur; but you'll 'ave to go into the kitchen among the farmers-men, the palor is okkipied." There was no reply to this, and then Clement Killigrew went into the kitchen.