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he must have observed me when I crouched behind the breakfast
equipage； no doubt but he must have commented on this unusual and
undignified behaviour； and it was essential that I should do
something to remove the impression。
'Waiter！' said I； 'that was the nephew of Count Carwell that just
drove off； wasn't it？'
'Yes； sir： Viscount Carwell we calls him；' he replied。
'Ah； I thought as much；' said I。 'Well； well； damn all these
Frenchmen； say I！'
'You may say so indeed； sir；' said the waiter。 'They ain't not to
say in the same field with our 'ome…raised gentry。'
'Nasty tempers？' I suggested。
'Beas'ly temper； sir； the Viscount 'ave；' said the waiter with
feeling。 'Why； no longer agone than this morning； he was sitting
breakfasting and reading in his paper。 I suppose； sir； he come on
some pilitical information； or it might be about 'orses； but he
raps his 'and upon the table sudden and calls for curacoa。 It gave
me quite a turn； it did； he did it that sudden and 'ard。 Now； sir；
that may be manners in France； but hall I can say is； that I'm not
used to it。'
'Reading the paper； was he？' said I。 'What paper； eh？'
'Here it is； sir；' exclaimed the waiter。 'Seems like as if he'd
dropped it。'
And picking it off the floor he presented it to me。
I may say that I was quite prepared； that I already knew what to
expect； but at sight of the cold print my heart stopped beating。
There it was： the fulfilment of Romaine's apprehension was before
me； the paper was laid open at the capture of Clausel。 I felt as
if I could take a little curacoa myself； but on second thoughts
called for brandy。 It was badly wanted； and suddenly I observed
the waiter's eye to sparkle； as it were； with some recognition；
made certain he had remarked the resemblance between me and Alain；
and became aware … as by a revelation … of the fool's part I had
been playing。 For I had now managed to put my identification
beyond a doubt； if Alain should choose to make his inquiries at
Aylesbury； and； as if that were not enough； I had added； at an
expense of seventy pounds； a clue by which he might follow me
through the length and breadth of England； in the shape of the
claret…coloured chaise！ That elegant equipage （which I began to
regard as little better than a claret…coloured ante…room to the
hangman's cart） coming presently to the door； I left my breakfast
in the middle and departed； posting to the north as diligently as
my cousin Alain was posting to the south； and putting my trust
（such as it was） in an opposite direction and equal speed。
CHAPTER XXII … CHARACTER AND ACQUIREMENTS OF MR。 ROWLEY
I AM not certain that I had ever really appreciated before that
hour the extreme peril of the adventure on which I was embarked。
The sight of my cousin； the look of his face … so handsome； so
jovial at the first sight； and branded with so much malignity as
you saw it on the second … with his hyperbolical curls in order；
with his neckcloth tied as if for the conquests of love； setting
forth （as I had no doubt in the world he was doing） to clap the Bow
Street runners on my trail； and cover England with handbills； each
dangerous as a loaded musket； convinced me for the first time that
the affair was no less serious than death。 I believe it came to a
near touch whether I should not turn the horses' heads at the next
stage and make directly for the coast。 But I was now in the
position of a man who should have thrown his gage into the den of
lions； or； better still； like one who should have quarrelled
overnight under the influence of wine； and now； at daylight； in a
cold winter's morning； and humbly sober； must make good his words。
It is not that I thought any the less； or any the less warmly； of
Flora。 But； as I smoked a grim segar that morning in a corner of
the chaise； no doubt I considered； in the first place； that the
letter…post had been invented； and admitted privately to myself； in
the second； that it would have been highly possible to write her on
a piece of paper； seal it； and send it skimming by the mail；
instead of going personally into these egregious dangers； and
through a country that I beheld crowded with gibbets and Bow Street
officers。 As for Sim and Candlish； I doubt if they crossed my
mind。
At the Green Dragon Rowley was waiting on the doorsteps with the
luggage； and really was bursting with unpalatable conversation。
'Who do you think we've 'ad 'ere； sir？' he began breathlessly； as
the chaise drove off。 'Red Breasts'； and he nodded his head
portentously。
'Red Breasts？' I repeated； for I stupidly did not understand at the
moment an expression I had often heard。
'Ah！' said he。 'Red weskits。 Runners。 Bow Street runners。 Two
on' em； and one was Lavender himself！ I hear the other say quite
plain； 〃Now； Mr。 Lavender； IF you're ready。〃 They was breakfasting
as nigh me as I am to that postboy。 They're all right； they ain't
after us。 It's a forger； and I didn't send them off on a false
scent … O no！ I thought there was no use in having them over our
way； so I give them 〃very valuable information；〃 Mr。 Lavender said；
and tipped me a tizzy for myself； and they're off to Luton。 They
showed me the 'andcuffs； too … the other one did … and he clicked
the dratted things on my wrist； and I tell you； I believe I nearly
went off in a swound！ There's something so beastly in the feel of
them！ Begging your pardon； Mr。 Anne；' he added； with one of his
delicious changes from the character of the confidential schoolboy
into that of the trained； respectful servant。
Well； I must not be proud！ I cannot say I found the subject of
handcuffs to my fancy； and it was with more asperity than was
needful that I reproved him for the slip about the name。
'Yes； Mr。 Ramornie；' says he； touching his hat。 'Begging your
pardon； Mr。 Ramornie。 But I've been very piticular； sir； up to
now； and you may trust me to be very piticular in the future。 It
were only a slip； sir。'
'My good boy；' said I； with the most imposing severity； 'there must
be no slips。 Be so good as to remember that my life is at stake。'
I did not embrace the occasion of telling him how many I had made
myself。 It is my principle that an officer must never be wrong。 I
have seen two divisions beating their brains out for a fortnight
against a worthless and quite impregnable castle in a pass： I knew
we were only doing it for discipline； because the General had said
so at first； and had not yet found any way out of his own words；
and I highly admired his force of character； and throughout these
operations thought my life exposed in a very good cause。 With
fools and children； which included Rowley； the necessity was even
greater。 I proposed to myself to be infallible； and even when he
expressed some wonder at