Again his eyes flashed, and this time he placed his hand on the butt end of his pistol. On looking at me, however, he again assumed a bland expression. "You have given me a name, sir, and you have called me a coward. Well, have your own way. The truth is, although I am travelling in civilian's attire, I hope soon to be ordained a priest. For the present, therefore, I am under a vow not to fight." "A rail gen'leman, a rail gen'leman," murmured the men. "An arrant coward," I cried. "I think," said Clement to the landlord, who had entered, "that your drink must be very strong here. This gentleman must be drunk." This gave me my chance, and I was about to strike him in the face, when I heard Amelia's voice outside. "Come, sir, quick." I left the room, while the men gave a loud guffaw at my supposed discomfiture. "Git the 'osses out quick, sir," cried the maid. "Why?" "Do as she tells you," said Mistress Nancy. "He'll ride after us as before," I objected. "No he wa'ant, not fur," cried Amelia. I did as they suggested, and when I had paid the landlord I prepared to mount. I was still in the dark why Mistress Nancy had suggested this course of procedure, but it was for her to command and me to obey. I kept my eyes steadily on the front door while my two companions mounted. I thought I saw Clement Killigrew come out, but was not sure. "Ride on quickly out of pistol range," I said to them, then I walked backward by Chestnut's side for twenty or thirty yards, all the time holding my pistol in my right hand. No one following, I placed my foot in the stirrup and was soon galloping down the road. We had not gone far when I heard the sound of hoofs behind us. "He's again following us," I said bitterly. "He wa'ant come fur!" said Amelia with a laugh; so I turned to her, asking what she meant. CHAPTER XVI. WHY I TOOK MISTRESS NANCY TO TREVISCOE. Amelia did not immediately answer my question, but continued to laugh like one in high spirits. "He wa'ant come fur!" she repeated; and after we had gone on, it may have been a mile or two, I stopped and listened again, and this time there were no following footsteps. "Now we must ride quick," said the maid. "How! what use will it be?" I asked almost angrily. "Clement's horse will be as good as either of yours." "Iss, but his hoss is drunk!" laughed Amelia. "Drunk?" I cried. "Iss, drunk. When I zeed you go into the kitchen, and tried to git into a row weth Maaster Clement, I minded a trick I once seed at Endellion Church town. So I tould the chap that took your 'osses to draw me a gallon of beer. He axed me questions 'bout et, but I knawed 'ow to git over 'ee." "And did the horse drink it?" "Drink et! I shud think he ded. He wos thusty and sooped up every drap. Aw I shud like to see un now;" and the maid laughed again.