"More guineas for those who are left," was the answer. "The other affair trots nicely," and he winked slowly over the tilted edge of his tankard. "Wait!" said the other. "The netting of such fish may be sport enough, but there are handsome fish which are the devil to handle, and the taste of them is poison. Hist!" His companion turned quickly at the warning, and through the open door saw the maid, who attended the great lady, in the passage without. She inquired for the landlord, who came quickly, and at the same time the trooper got up and crossed the room, giving no explanation to his companion. "Must we start early to reach Dorchester to-morrow?" the maid inquired of the landlord. "Yes, very early. The roads--" "The roads are good, mistress," volunteered the trooper. "I have ridden over them to-day." "You may be able to tell me better than the landlord, then," said the girl, and for some minutes they talked in a low tone as they stood in the doorway of the inn. "A fine night, mistress," said the man as the girl was about to leave him. "With the moon up like this, lovers should be abroad. It's but a hundred yards to the open fields; will you come?" "With you!" exclaimed the girl scornfully, looking him up slowly from his boots to his eyes. "Why not?" The maid's eyes were attractive, her figure was neat, and the man had sufficient ale in him to make him bold. For an instant they looked at each other; then the girl laughed derisively. "When the master grows tired, the man may prove useful, and the man has a fancy for sampling the wares forthwith," said the trooper as he caught hold of the girl and would have kissed her. Perhaps he did not expect any great resistance, and was unprepared, but at any rate she slipped from his embrace, dealing him a resounding box upon the ears as she did so. "You shall be punished further before many hours are over," said the girl as she ran lightly up the stairs. The man growled an oath as he stood with his hand to his assaulted ear. "Did I not say that some were the devil to handle?" remarked his companion, who had come to the common-room door, and was smiling grimly. "I grant she takes first trick, and with a heavy hand for so small a person, but the game is only commencing. One more draught of ale to drink success to the end of it, and then to horse." As the troopers rode out of Witley presently a horseman drew back into the shadow of some trees by the roadside to let them pass. "The remaining two," he murmured. "That's well; they have given up the pursuit," and he turned and went at a brisk canter across country. The maid said nothing about the trooper to her mistress; she only told her that an early start would have to be made. "Very well, Harriet, I shall want nothing more to-night, and will put myself to bed."