home, and, turning into a tavern, begged Macshane to go before me to
my lodging, and see if the coast was clear: which he did; and came
back to me as pale as death, saying that the house was full of
constables. The cursed quarrel at the Tilt-yard had, I suppose, set
the beaks upon me; and a pretty sweep they made of it. Ah, my dear!
five hundred pounds in money, five suits of laced clothes, three
periwigs, besides laced shirts, swords, canes, and snuff-boxes; and
all to go back to that scoundrel Count.

"It was all over with me, I saw--no more being a gentleman for me;
and if I remained to be caught, only a choice between Tyburn and a
file of grenadiers. My love, under such circumstances, a gentleman
can't be particular, and must be prompt; the livery-stable was hard
by where I used to hire my coach to go to Court,--ha! ha!--and was
known as a man of substance. Thither I went immediately. 'Mr.
Warmmash,' says I, 'my gallant friend here and I have a mind for a
ride and a supper at Twickenham, so you must lend us a pair of your
best horses.' Which he did in a twinkling, and off we rode.

"We did not go into the Park, but turned off and cantered smartly up
towards Kilburn; and, when we got into the country, galloped as if
the devil were at our heels. Bless you, my love, it was all done in
a minute: and the Ensign and I found ourselves regular knights of
the road, before we knew where we were almost. Only think of our
finding you and your new husband at the 'Three Rooks'! There's not
a greater fence than the landlady in all the country. It was she
that put us on seizing your husband, and introduced us to the other
two gentlemen, whose names I don't know any more than the dead."

"And what became of the horses?" said Mrs. Catherine to Mr. Brock,