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 dreadful blow with her culinary weapon in the face, that the poor fellow staggered back with a roaring yell.

The Duke now ordered his people to desist from all further contention; for although he was an Englishman, yet he did not possess a large share of that undaunted courage for which his countrymen are renowned; and having learnt, by the exclamation of the landlady, that Alfonso had a master, which till then had not come into his Lordship's mind, he thought it prudent to proceed with less violence. The hostess did, however, no sooner espy him at the window, than she let loose the reins of her tongue, thinking him to be the chief cause of that incident. She read such a lecture to the Englishman on the impudence of his people, as he probably never had heard before. Her husband too, who was not in the habit of agreeing with his loving spouse, was of the same opinion with her, declaring that the stable could be parted with for no price.