Page:Exploits of Brigadier Gerard.djvu/182

148 help me. You have the bearing of a gentleman, and yet you steal my husband's coat."

"Madame," said I, "I beg that you will not condemn me until you know everything. It is quite necessary that I should take this coat, but if you will have the goodness to tell me who it is who is fortunate enough to be your husband, I shall see that the coat is sent back to him."

Her face softened a little, though she still tried to look severe. "My husband," she answered, "is Sir Charles Meredith, and he is travelling to Dartmoor Prison, upon important Government business. I only ask you, sir, to go upon your way, and to take nothing which belongs to him."

"There is only one thing which belongs to him that I covet," said I.

"And you have taken it from the carriage," she cried.

"No," I answered. "It still remains there."

She laughed in her frank English way.

"If, instead of paying me compliments, you were to return my husband's coat" she began.

"Madame," I answered, "what you ask is quite impossible. If you will allow me to come into the carriage, I will explain to you how necessary this coat is to me."

Heaven knows into what foolishness I might