Shouldering my way through the buzzing, drinking throng I made for my horse. The stable in which I had left her lay round a dark, far corner of the yard, and on turning this I noticed that the door was closed and that a flickering light showed underneath it. This surprised me not a little, and hurrying up I tried the door. To my great astonishment I found it fastened on the inner side. I called, but no one answered save my mare, who gave a joyous whinny. Listening for a moment I made out voices talking in a whisper, and thus feeling certain that some mischief was afoot I put my shoulder to the door (an ancient, rickety affair) and burst it open. Then indeed I started back, as well I might, for there was my horse already saddled, while beside her stood two burly, steel-capped fellows, armed with sword and pistol. One of them held a lantern, the other Kitty’s bridle, and both regarded me with guilty, startled faces, like the thieving dogs they were. Just then the mare turned round her pretty head to look at me, and neighed again. "Is this thy mare?" asked he who held the bridle. "Well--yes," I answered; "at least, that is, I thought it was; but now it seems as though I must have been mistaken." "Thou hast a mocking tongue, young man," whined he who held the lantern. "Yet that were surely better than a thieving hand," quoth I. "What mean you?" he asked, taking a step towards me. "Exactly what I say," I answered slowly. "In other words, you are a pair of sneaking thieves." At that each laid a hand upon his sword and eyed me fiercely, while he with the light came forward in a threatening fashion. "We are no thieves," he hissed, showing his yellow teeth. "We claim thy mare for the cause." "And, prithee, what cause is that?" I asked. "The cause of liberty and truth," whined he. "The cause of Monmouth, eh?" He nodded frowningly. "Then," said I, "if liberty and truth go hand in hand with thieving, may God help the Duke! Let go that bridle," I added, striding up to the fellow who had laid a hand on it again. He hesitated for a moment, glaring upon me with a pair of angry, bloodshot eyes; but, though only eighteen years, I topped him by a good three inches, and doubtless my face told tales besides. Growling something anent "godless upstarts" he drew back sulkily and joined his comrade by the door which he had closed. And there they stood muttering together and casting ugly glances at me. Turning Kitty round, I took her bridle on my arm and moved towards them. "Open that door," I said, "and let me pass." But they were two to one, and odds give courage even unto cowards. Whipping out their swords they set themselves against the door. "You leave that horse or go not," said one. "Aye, verily," quoth the other. Stopping, I also drew my sword and said: "Ah! say you so? Listen; do you know that I have but to call, and half a score good friends will come to teach you honesty? Again, I say, open that door and let me pass."