"Down with you," said the highwayman to the post-boy. "Take this rope, and see that you fasten this gentleman securely to that tree yonder. One loose knot that may give him a chance of escape, and I'll see to it that you never throw your leg across the back of a horse again." Covering them with his pistol, he watched this operation performed. "See that he has no firearms," and the lad hastened to do as he was told. The highwayman carefully examined the cord, and made sure that the captive could not get free without help. Then he went to the door of the coach. "You are safe, Mistress Lanison." "Gilbert!" she whispered. "Pitch anything that belongs to this fellow into the road." A coat was thrown out. "Curse you both!" said Rosmore. "By God! if I live you shall pay for your work to-night!" "Is he to pay the price, mistress?" said the highwayman. "You know what you have suffered at his hands. What things have his vile lips threatened you with to-night? His life is in your hands. Speak, and the world shall be well rid of him." "Oh, no, Gilbert, no!" "I almost wish you had said 'Yes.' Mount!" he called to the post-boy. A string of oaths came from Lord Rosmore. "Silence!" the highwayman shouted, but the oaths did not cease. Then a sharp report rang out upon the night, and a cry came from the captive. "Oh, Gilbert, you have killed him!" "That was a cry of fear, mistress. The bullet is in the tree a good four feet above his head," said the highwayman as he closed the coach door. "You must travel for the rest of the journey alone, but have no fear. I ride by the coach to see you into safety. Forward, post-boy! Good-night, Lord Rosmore. A woman betrayed you, even as you have betrayed many women. Thank fate that your life lay in the hands of Mistress Lanison, and not in hers. She would have bid me shoot straight. Good-night." For a moment the highwayman let his horse paw the ground in front of the man bound helplessly to the tree. Then he laughed, as a man will who plays a winning game, and rode after the coach. CHAPTER XXVIII THE LEATHER CASE