"Ha, Perry!" he exclaimed, as we prepared to drop into the garden below, "I'm a curst, dull-witted ass--here have I been sedulously guzzling ale, rum, brandy and dooce knows how many kinds of wine, and what I really needed was blood, d'ye see? Blood, old fellow, no matter whose. And, begad, blood we'll have to-night, Perry, or know the reason why. Come on, old fellow, both together--now!" Down he leapt and down I scrambled, and side by side we advanced towards the house that held for me all the nauseous evil and unspeakable shame of all the world. CHAPTER IX CONCERNING THE OPENING OF A DOOR "Anthony, give me the pistol!" "Damme, no--ha' patience! Meantime take this--more useful if it comes t' scrimmage!" And he twisted a stake from the flower bed we were trampling and thrust it into my hand. "Enemy's country, Perry,--qui vive! Hist! Attention and all the rest of it! Forward an' curse the consequences!" So we stole forward like the madmen we were, but very silent and very determined. The house stood upon a noble terrace, a large house of many gables and windows, most of these last being unlighted. Fortune seemed to favour us, for we met with none to oppose us, and mounting a broad flight of stone steps, reached the terrace unmolested. But as I stood glancing about for some door or likely window whereby we might force entrance, Anthony dragged me down suddenly into the shadow of the balustrade, as round a corner of the house two men appeared. "Wot," growled one, pausing, the better to spit in passionate disgust, "put the 'orses to the phaeton, must I? And at this time o' night--an' all for a couple o' light country Molls as is afeard to foot it 'ome in the dark, curse 'em!" "She ain't no country Moll, Ben, leastways not 'er as I see--a reg'lar 'igh-stepper--all the lady, Ben--such eyes, ecod--such a shape to 'er, Ben--" "Well, dang 'er shape, I says! Why can't she go as she come?" "Summat in the wood give 'er a turn, scared 'er like, an' back she run to the Guv'nor an' orders 'im to 'ave the phaeton round, which the Guv'nor does; an' there's 'im an' t' others a-toastin' of 'er this 'ere werry minute. Oh, she's a lady, Ben, an' mighty 'igh an' 'aughty, by 'er looks." "'Aughty!" sneered Ben, spitting again. "Lady! We know th' kind o' ladies as comes a visitin' th' Guv'nor or the Captain 'ere a-nights--" "Shut your trap, Ben, an' get to your 'osses, lady or no." "Lady--ha, fine doin's--fine doin's! Shameless 'ussies--" "Close up, Ben, close up--mum's the word hereabouts! The Guv'nor's got a quick eye for a fine young woman--ah, an' so's you an' me, for that matter! An' I tell ye, this 'un's a fine lady, even if a bit frolicsome. So git to your 'osses, Ben--an' sharp's the word."