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thousand men of this our island in the wave （exclusive of women
and children） rivet their eyes and thoughts on Lord George
Gordon； and every day； from the rising up of the sun to the going
down of the same； pray for his health and vigour。 My lord；’ said the
speaker； rising in his stirrups； ‘it is a glorious cause； and must not
be forgotten。 My lord； it is a mighty cause； and must not be
endangered。 My lord； it is a holy cause； and must not be deserted。’
‘It is a holy cause；’ exclaimed his lordship； lifting up his hat with
great solemnity。 ‘Amen。’
‘John Grueby；’ said the long…winded gentleman； in a tone of
mild reproof； ‘his lordship said Amen。’
‘I heard my lord； sir；’ said the man； sitting like a statue on his
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horse。
‘And do not you say Amen； likewise？’
To which John Grueby made no reply at all； but sat looking
straight before him。
‘You surprise me； Grueby；’ said the gentleman。 ‘At a crisis like
the present； when Queen Elizabeth； that maiden monarch； weeps
within her tomb； and Bloody Mary； with a brow of gloom and
shadow； stalks triumphant—’
‘Oh； sir；’ cried the man； gruffly； ‘where’s the use of talking of
Bloody Mary； under such circumstances as the present； when my
lord’s wet through； and tired with hard riding？ Let’s either go on
to London； sir； or put up at once； or that unfort’nate Bloody Mary
will have more to answer for—and she’s done a deal more harm in
her grave than she ever did in her lifetime； I believe。’
By this time Mr Willet； who had never beard so many words
spoken together at one time； or delivered with such volubility and
emphasis as by the long…winded gentleman； and whose brain；
being wholly unable to sustain or compass them； had quite given
itself up for lost； recovered so far as to observe that there was
ample accommodation at the Maypole for all the party： good beds；
neat wines； excellent entertainment for man and beast； private
rooms for large and small parties； dinners dressed upon the
shortest notice； choice stabling； and a lock…up coach…house； and； in
short； to run over such recommendatory scraps of language as
were painted up on various portions of the building； and which in
the course of some forty years he had learnt to repeat with
tolerable correctness。 He was considering whether it was at all
possible to insert any novel sentences to the same purpose； when
the gentleman who had spoken first； turning to him of the long
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wind； exclaimed； ‘What say you； Gashford？ Shall we tarry at this
house he speaks of； or press forward？ You shall decide。’
‘I would submit； my lord； then；’ returned the person he
appealed to； in a silky tone； ‘that your health and spirits—so
important； under Providence； to our great cause； our pure and
truthful cause’—here his lordship pulled off his hat again； though
it was raining hard—‘require refreshment and repose。’
‘Go on before； landlord； and show the way；’ said Lord George
Gordon； ‘we will follow at a footpace。’
‘If you’ll give me leave； my lord；’ said John Grueby； in a low
voice； ‘I’ll change my proper place； and ride before you。 The looks
of the landlord’s friend are not over honest； and it may be as well
to be cautious with him。’
‘John Grueby is quite right；’ interposed Mr Gashford； falling
back hastily。 ‘My lord； a life so precious as yours must not be put
in peril。 Go forward； John； by all means。 If you have any reason to
suspect the fellow； blow his brains out。’
John made no answer； but looking straight before him； as his
custom seemed to be when the secretary spoke； bade Hugh push
on； and followed close behind him。 Then came his lordship； with
Mr Willet at his bridle rein； and； last of all； his lordship’s
secretary—for that； it seemed； was Gashford’s office。
Hugh strode briskly on； often looking back at the servant；
whose horse was close upon his heels； and glancing with a leer at
his bolster case of pistols； by which he seemed to set great store。
He was a square…built； strong…made； bull…necked fellow； of the true
English breed； and as Hugh measured him with his eye； he
measured Hugh； regarding him meanwhile with a look of bluff
disdain。 He was much older than the Maypole man； being to all
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appearance five…and…forty； but was one of those self…possessed；
hard…headed； imperturbable fellows； who； if they are ever beaten
at fisticuffs； or other kind of warfare； never know it； and go on
coolly till they win。
‘If I led you wrong now；’ said Hugh； tauntingly； ‘you’d—ha ha
ha！—you’d shoot me through the head； I suppose。’
John Grueby took no more notice of this remark than if he had
been deaf and Hugh dumb； but kept riding on quite comfortably；
with his eyes fixed on the horizon。
‘Did you ever try a fall with a man when you were young；
master？’ said Hugh。 ‘Can you make any play at single…stick？’
John Grueby looked at him sideways with the same contented
air； but deigned not a word in answer。
‘—Like this？’ said Hugh； giving his cudgel one of those skilful
flourishes； in which the rustic of that time delighted。 ‘Whoop！’
‘—Or that；’ returned John Grueby； beating down his guard with
his whip； and striking him on the head with its butt end。 ‘Yes； I
played a little once。 You wear your hair too long； I should have
cracked your crown if it had been a little shorter。’
It was a pretty smart； loud…sounding rap； as it was； and
evidently astonished Hugh； who； for the moment； seemed
dispo