Page:Cerise, a tale of the last century (IA cerisetaleoflast00whytrich).pdf/465

 *portance he attached to her communication, of which not a word escaped him.

At the mention of the red-nosed captain with his bay mare, he interrupted her, dived into a table-drawer, from which he produced a note-book, and referred to an entry amongst its red-lined pages.

"Stop a moment, Mistress Alice," said he, turning over the leaves. "Here it is. Bay mare, fast, well-bred, kicks in the stable, white hind-foot, star, and snip on muzzle. Owner, middle height, speaks in a shrill voice, long nose, pale face, and flaxen hair in a club."

Alice's eyes kindled with the first part of this description, but she seemed disappointed when he reached the end.

"That's not our captain, Sir Marmaduke," said she. "Our captain's got a squeaky voice, sure enough; but his hair is jet-black, and his face, especially his nose, as red, ay, red as my petticoat. It's the moral of the mare, to be sure, and a wicked beast she is," added Alice, reflectively.

Sir Marmaduke pondered. "Is your captain, as you call him, a good-looking man?" said he, slyly.

Alice was indignant. "As ugly as sin!" she exclaimed. "Bloodshot eyes, scowling eyebrows, and a seam down one cheek that reaches to his chin. No, Sir Marmaduke, to do him justice, he's a very hard-featured gentleman, is the captain."

Sir Marmaduke, keeping his finger between the leaves of his note-book, referred once more to the entry.

"Tastes differ, Mistress Alice," said he, good-humouredly. "I think I can recognise the gentleman, though I've got him described here, and by one of your sex too, as 'exceedingly handsome-featured, of commanding presence, with an air of the highest fashion.' Never mind. I knew he was somewhere this side of the Border, but did not guess he was such a near neighbour. If it's any satisfaction, I don't mind telling you, my dear, he's likely enough to be in York gaol before the month's out. In the meantime, don't you let anybody know you've seen me, and keep your captain, if you possibly can, at the 'Hamilton Arms' till I want him."

Alice curtsied demurely. She had caught the excitement inseparable from everything that resembles a pursuit by