“There's no jest whatever,” said Diana; “you are accused of robbing this man, and my uncle believes it as well as I did.” “Upon my honour, I am greatly obliged to my friends for their good opinion!” “Now do not, if you can help it, snort, and stare, and snuff the wind, and look so exceedingly like a startled horse--There's no such offence as you suppose--you are not charged with any petty larceny or vulgar felony--by no means. This fellow was carrying money from Government, both specie and bills, to pay the troops in the north; and it is said he has been also robbed of some despatches of great consequence.” “And so it is high treason, then, and not simple robbery, of which I am accused!” “Certainly--which, you know, has been in all ages accounted the crime of a gentleman. You will find plenty in this country, and one not far from your elbow, who think it a merit to distress the Hanoverian government by every means possible.” “Neither my politics nor my morals, Miss Vernon, are of a description so accommodating.” “I really begin to believe that you are a Presbyterian and Hanoverian in good earnest. But what do you propose to do?” “Instantly to refute this atrocious calumny.--Before whom,” I asked, “was this extraordinary accusation laid.” “Before old Squire Inglewood, who had sufficient unwillingness to receive it. He sent tidings to my uncle, I suppose, that he might smuggle you away into Scotland, out of reach of the warrant. But my uncle is sensible that his religion and old predilections render him obnoxious to Government, and that, were he caught playing booty, he would be disarmed, and probably dismounted (which would be the worse evil of the two), as a Jacobite, papist, and suspected person.” * * On occasions of public alarm, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, the horses of the Catholics were often seized upon, as they were always supposed to be on the eve of rising in rebellion. “I can conceive that, sooner than lose his hunters, he would give up his nephew.” “His nephew, nieces, sons--daughters, if he had them, and whole generation,” said Diana;--“therefore trust not to him, even for a single moment, but make the best of your way before they can serve the warrant.” “That I shall certainly do; but it shall be to the house of this Squire Inglewood--Which way does it lie?” “About five miles off, in the low ground, behind yonder plantations--you may see the tower of the clock-house.” “I will be there in a few minutes,” said I, putting my horse in motion. “And I will go with you, and show you the way,” said Diana, putting her palfrey also to the trot. “Do not think of it, Miss Vernon,” I replied. “It is not--permit me the freedom of a friend--it is not proper, scarcely even delicate, in you to go with me on such an errand as I am now upon.”