She, drawing back in her uncertainty, was captured by strong arms, a
hood was thrown over her head, and she was lifted and carried in hot
haste to a chaise, and helped therein without much formality. As her
escort leapt in behind her, there swept in the other door another
figure, also intent upon being accommodated by a seat in a London
equipage; and before any one was aware of a _de trop_ comrade, the
doors were shut with a bang and horses started at a gallop. Under
cover of the noise her ladyship's vizor was lifted and she, half
smothered, drew breath and stared about her in the darkness.
"Thou didst bring thy servant with thee, Lady?"
"Who doth dare inveigle me from the protection of my cousin, Lord
Cedric?"
"I, my lady; a simple gentleman of his Grace of Monmouth's suite,--and
at his order."
"Ah--" 'twas long drawn and somewhat smacked of satisfaction. "Who is
this female?"
"Is she not thine?"
"Nay, not mine. She doth play the hocus," said her ladyship.
"Who art thou, then, woman; how came yonder door to pamper thy whim?"
The surprised guardsman rapped smartly upon the window, then pulling
it up leant out and asked for a torch.
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