Page:In the name of a woman (1900).djvu/351

 It was a bright, fine night, the moon had risen, and when we had cleared the town I resolved to urge the driver to quicken the pace of his horses. I let down the window, and the cool night air came rushing in and roused my companion, who sat up quickly.

"What is the matter?"

"Nothing; I wish your man to travel faster." I leant out and called to him:

"The General says you are to drive faster; at a gallop where possible." He did not hear me at first, and was for checking the horses, until I shouted the order to him again. I drew in my head, and was only just in the nick of time to avoid trouble.

The General had opened the door on his side and, in his desperation, was in the very act of springing out. I caught hold of him, dragged him back, and shut the door again. He fell in a heap huddled up at my feet.

"A very dangerous leap for a man of your age," I said drily. "I have probably saved your life, for the second time to-night," and I lifted him up on to the seat of the carriage again. "And now, understand me, if you had got out, I would have sprung out after you and shot you in the highway, had it cost me my life. I thought that you would understand by now that I'm in too dangerous a mood for you to fool with. But I'm glad of the hint you've given me, and I sha'n't forget it for the rest of the way."

He made no answer, but lay back on the seat as before, and I did not attempt to rouse him. The incident disquieted me, for it showed that he was dead set on outwitting me, and would do so if I relaxed for a single second the strain of his terror of my pistol.

The carriage was now travelling at a great pace, the man urging the horses to a gallop over every yard of