With a twinkle in his own eyes the Irishman continued: "Well, alanna, ye must know that yesterday evening I was at Kilroy's on a matter of business-and that reminds me, Molly, we had a hand or two at faro and the like before I left, and I had very distressing luck-"
On a sudden my lady's demure air vanished.
"Is that so, Miles? I make no doubt the stakes were prodigious high? Pray, how much have you lost?"
"Whisht, darlin', 'tis a mere thrifle, I assure you. . . . Well, as I was saying, on me way home, what should happen but that we be held up by one of these highwaymen-"
My lady's eyes widened in horror, and two little hands clutched at his coat.
"Oh, Miles!"
His arm tightened round her waist.
"Sure, asthore, I'm still alive to tell the tale, though 'tis not far I'll be getting with you interrupting at every moment!"
"But, Miles, how terrible! You might have been killed! And you never told me! 'Twas monstrous wicked of you, darling!"
"Faith, Molly, how should I be telling you when 'twas yourself that was fast asleep? Now will you whisht?"
She nodded obediently, and dimpled.
"Well, as I say, here was this man standing in the road, pointing his pistol at me. But will ye believe me, me love, when I tell you that that same pistol was as empty as-my own?" Here he was shaken with laughter. "Lud, Molly, 'twas the drollest thing! I had me pistol in me hand, knowing 'twas unloaded, and wondering what the devil, saving your presence, was to do next, when the idea struck me that I should try to bluff me fine sir. So I cried out that his pistol was unloaded, and completely took him by surprise! Sure he hadn't time to ask himself how the devil I should be knowing that! He dropped it on the road. Afther-"
"Miles, you are becoming very Irish!"
"Never say so, alanna. After that 'twas simple enough, and me lord gave in. He held out his hands for me to bind-and here's where 'tis puzzling, Molly-I saw that they were a prodigious sight too white and fine for an ordinary highwayman. So I taxed him with it-"
"'Twas a gentleman in disguise! How splendid, Miles!"
"Will ye hold your tongue, asthore, and not be spoiling me story on me?"
"Oh, indeed I am sorry! I will be good!"
"-and he started and seemed monstrous put out. What's more, me dear, I heard him speak to his mare in an ordinary, gentleman's voice.
Molly, ye never saw the like of that same mare! The sweetest-"