Page:Marriott Watson--Galloping Dick.djvu/86

 (to which he was a sore loss) he would have achieved an admirable practice. And yet I was like at that time to have disengaged myself from his life once and for all, had it not been for what followed immediately. The troop, being now in order, with Baverstock in the thick of it, was wheeling off upon the Bristol Road, Sir Ralph at the head, when, shifting in his saddle, he waved his sword to me merrily.

“To our next meeting, Captain,” he cried, “and prythee, an’ thou lovest me, let it fall soon, and upon a fine night and a good road.”

“Damn me,” I shouted, the blood singing of a sudden in my head, “but you shall find no quarrel with date, nor time, nor circumstances, or hang me for a cutpurse.”

I heard the sound of his laughter, as the horses took the corner; and it was there and then I got the resolution. I had no more liking for Baverstock than I should spend upon an attorney; save that he was a fellow of spirit. But I had acquired a strange fancy for Sir Ralph, and it maddened me that he