Page:Paul Clifford Vol 2.djvu/288

280 maligned Clifford; and turning now from Lucy, it fairly poured itself forth upon her deliverer. He grasped him warmly by the hand, and insisted upon his accompanying them to Bath in the carriage, and allowing the footman to ride his horse. This offer was still pending, when the footman, who had been to see after the health and comfort of his fellow-servant, came to inform the party in a dolorous accent, of something which, in the confusion and darkness of the night, they had not yet learned,—namely, that the horses and coachman were—gone!"

"Gone!" said the Squire—"Gone!—why the villains can't—(for my part, I never believe, though I have heard such wonders of, those slights of hand)—have bagged them!"

Here a low groan was audible, and the footman sympathetically guided to the spot whence it emanated, found the huge body of the coachman safely deposited, with its face downward, in the middle of the kennel. After this worthy had been lifted to his legs, and had shaken himself