"Pray, never mind the mare, dear! I am all agog to hear about the gentleman-highwayman!"
"Very well, me love, though 'twas a prodigious fine mare-When I heard him speak, it flashed across me brain that I knew him-no, ye don't, Molly!" His hand was over her mouth as he spoke, and her eyes danced madly. "But I could not for the life of me think where I had heard that voice: 'twas but the one word I heard him speak, ye understand, and when I held his wrists I felt that 'twas no stranger. And yet 'tis impossible. When I got him within the coach-"
"How imprudent! He might have-"
"Whisht now! When I got him within the coach I tried to worm his identity out of him, but 'twas to no avail. But when I told him he would have to appear before me to-day, he went off into a fit of laughing, till I wondered what he was at, at all. And not another word could I get out of him after beyond 'Yes, sir,' and 'No, sir.' Still, I felt that 'twas a gentleman all the same, so I-"
He was enveloped in a rapturous embrace.
"You dear Miles! You let him escape?"
"Sure, alanna, is it meself that would be doing the like? And me a Justice of the Peace withal? I told them not to handcuff me lord."
"Oh, I do so wish you had let him escape! But if 'tis really a gentleman, you will?"
"I will not then, asthore. I'll be sending him to await the Assizes."
"You are very cruel, then."
"But, me darlin'-"
"And I wish to get off your knee."
He drew her close.
"I'll see what can be done for your protégé, Molly. But don't be forgetting he tried to kill the only husband you have!" He watched the effect of this with that humorous twinkle in his eye. But my lady was not to be put off.
"With an empty pistol? Fie on you, Miles! And may I hide behind the screen while you question him?"
"Ye may not."
"But I wish so much to see him!"
O'Hara shook his head with an air of finality she knew full well. However easy-going and good-natured her husband might be, there were times when he was impervious to all blandishments. So after darkly hinting that she would be nearer than he imagined, she gave up the contest to go and visit young Master David in his nursery.
* * * * * For some time in lock-up Carstares had cudgelled his brain to think out a possible mode of escape next day, but try as he might he could light on nothing. If only Miles were not to question him! It was hardly likely that he would be allowed to retain his mask, yet therein lay his only chance of preserving his incognito. He prayed that by some merciful providence O'Hara would either fail to recognise him or would at least pretend that he did not. Having decided that there was nothing further to be done in the matter he lay down on his extremely hard pallet, and went to sleep as if he had not a care in the world.