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Earl himself kept up a sly occasional acquaintance with
her； when out of the jurisdiction of his ladies。
Rebecca had her revenge now upon these insolent
enemies。 If became known in the hotel that Captain
Crawley's horses had been left behind； and when the
panic began； Lady Bareacres condescended to send her
maid to the Captain's wife with her Ladyship's compliments；
and a desire to know the price of Mrs。 Crawley's
horses。 Mrs。 Crawley returned a note with her compliments；
and an intimation that it was not her custom to
transact bargains with ladies' maids。
This curt reply brought the Earl in person to Becky's
apartment； but he could get no more success than the
first ambassador。 〃Send a lady's maid to ME！〃 Mrs。
Crawley cried in great anger； 〃why didn't my Lady
Bareacres tell me to go and saddle the horses！ Is it her
Ladyship that wants to escape； or her Ladyship's femme
de chambre？〃 And this was all the answer that the Earl
bore back to his Countess。
What will not necessity do？ The Countess herself
actually came to wait upon Mrs。 Crawley on the failure
of her second envoy。 She entreated her to name her own
price； she even offered to invite Becky to Bareacres
House； if the latter would but give her the means of
returning to that residence。 Mrs。 Crawley sneered at her。
〃I don't want to be waited on by bailiffs in livery；〃 she
said； 〃you will never get back though most probably
at least not you and your diamonds together。 The French
will have those They will be here in two hours； and I
shall be half way to Ghent by that time。 I would not sell
you my horses； no； not for the two largest diamonds that
your Ladyship wore at the ball。〃 Lady Bareacres trembled
with rage and terror。 The diamonds were sewed into her
habit； and secreted in my Lord's padding and boots。
〃Woman； the diamonds are at the banker's； and I WILL
have the horses；〃 she said。 Rebecca laughed in her face。
The infuriate Countess went below； and sate in her
carriage； her maid； her courier； and her husband were sent
once more through the town； each to look for cattle； and
woe betide those who came last！ Her Ladyship was
resolved on departing the very instant the horses arrived
from any quarterwith her husband or without him。
Rebecca had the pleasure of seeing her Ladyship in
the horseless carriage； and keeping her eyes fixed upon
her； and bewailing； in the loudest tone of voice； the
Countess's perplexities。 〃Not to be able to get horses！〃
she said； 〃and to have all those diamonds sewed into the
carriage cushions！ What a prize it will be for the French
when they come！the carriage and the diamonds； I mean；
not the lady！〃 She gave this information to the landlord；
to the servants； to the guests； and the innumerable
stragglers about the courtyard。 Lady Bareacres could have
shot her from the carriage window。
It was while enjoying the humiliation of her enemy that
Rebecca caught sight of Jos； who made towards her
directly he perceived her。
That altered； frightened； fat face； told his secret well
enough。 He too wanted to fly； and was on the look…out
for the means of escape。 〃HE shall buy my horses；〃
thought Rebecca； 〃and I'll ride the mare。〃
Jos walked up to his friend； and put the question for
the hundredth time during the past hour； 〃Did she know
where horses were to be had？〃
〃What； YOU fly？〃 said Rebecca； with a laugh。 〃I
thought you were the champion of all the ladies； Mr。
Sedley。〃
〃II'm not a military man；〃 gasped he。
〃And Amelia？Who is to protect that poor little sister
of yours？〃 asked Rebecca。 〃You surely would not desert
her？〃
〃What good can I do her； supposesuppose the enemy
arrive？〃 Jos answered。 〃They'll spare the women； but my
man tells me that they have taken an oath to give no
quarter to the menthe dastardly cowards。〃
〃Horrid！〃 cried Rebecca； enjoying his perplexity。
〃Besides； I don't want to desert her；〃 cried the brother。
〃She SHAN'T be deserted。 There is a seat for her in my
carriage； and one for you； dear Mrs。 Crawley； if you will
come； and if we can get horses〃 sighed he
〃I have two to sell；〃 the lady said。 Jos could have
flung himself into her arms at the news。 〃Get the carriage；
Isidor；〃 he cried； 〃we've found themwe have found
them。〃
My horses never were in harness；〃 added the lady。
〃Bullfinch would kick the carriage to pieces； if you put
him in the traces。〃
〃But he is quiet to ride？〃 asked the civilian。
〃As quiet as a lamb； and as fast as a hare；〃 answered
Rebecca。
〃Do you think he is up to my weight？〃 Jos said。 He
was already on his back； in imagination； without ever so
much as a thought for poor Amelia。 What person who
loved a horse…speculation could resist such a temptation？
In reply； Rebecca asked him to come into her room；
whither he followed her quite breathless to conclude the
bargain。 Jos seldom spent a half…hour in his life which
cost him so much money。 Rebecca； measuring the value
of the goods which she had for sale by Jos's eagerness to
purchase； as well as by the scarcity of the article； put
upon her horses a price so prodigious as to make even
the civilian draw back。 〃She would sell both or neither；〃
she said； resolutely。 Rawdon had ordered her not to part
with them for a price less than that which she specified。
Lord Bareacres below would give her the same money
and with all her love and regard for the Sedley family；
her dear Mr。 Joseph must conceive that poor people must
livenobody； in a word； could be more affectionate； but
more firm about the matter of business。
Jos ended by agreeing； as might be supposed of him。
The sum he had to give her was so large that he was
obliged to ask for time； so large as to be a little fortune
to Rebecca； who rapidly calculated that with this sum；
and the sale of the residue of Rawdon's effects； and her
pension as a widow should he fall； she would now be
absolutely independent of the world； and might look her
weeds steadily in the face。
Once or twice in the day she certainly had herself
thought about flying。 But her reason gave her better
counsel。 〃Suppose the French do come；〃 thought Becky；
〃what can they do to a poor officer's widow？ Bah！ the
times of sacks and sieges are over。 We shall be let to go
home quietly； or I may live pleasantly abroad with a snug
little income。〃
Meanwhile Jos and Isidor went off to the stables to
inspect the newly purchased cattle。 Jos bade his man
saddle the horses at once。 He would ride away that very
night； that very hour。 And he left the valet busy in getting
the horses ready； and went homewards himself to
prepare for his departure。 It must be secret。 He would go to
his chamber by the back entrance。 He did not care to face
Mrs。 O'Dowd and Amelia； and own to them that he was
about to run。
By the time Jos's bargain with Rebecca was completed；
and his horses had been visited and examined； it was
almost morning once more。 But though midnight was long
passed； there was no rest for the city； the people were
up； the lights in the houses flamed； crowds were still
about the doors； and the streets were busy。 Rumours of
various natures went still from mouth to mouth： one
report averred that the Prussians had