Produced by David Widger
By Winston Churchill
XXVI. The Part Horatio played
XXVII. In which I am sore tempted
XXVIII. Arlington Street
XXIX. I meet a very Great Young Man
XXX. A Conspiracy
XXXI. "Upstairs into the World"
XXXII. Lady Tankerville's Drum-major
XXXIII. Drury Lane
The bailiff's business was quickly settled. I heard the heavy doorsclose at our backs, and drew a deep draught of the air God has made forall His creatures alike. Both the captain and I turned to the windows towave a farewell to the sad ones we were leaving behind, who gatheredabout the bars for a last view of us, for strange as it may seem, themere sight of happiness is often a pleasure for those who are sad. Acoach in private arms and livery was in waiting, surrounded by a crowd.They made a lane for us to pass, and stared at the young lady of queenlybeauty coming out of the sponging-house until the coachman snapped hiswhip in their faces and the footman jostled them back. When we were gotin, Dolly and I on the back seat, Comyn told the man to go to Mr.Manners's.
"Oh, no!" I cried, scarce knowing what I said; "no, not there!" For thethought of entering the house in Arlington Street was unbearable.
Both Comyn and Dorothy gazed at me in astonishment.
"And pray, Richard, why not'?" she asked. "Have not your old friendsthe right to receive you."
It was my Lord who saved me, for I was in agony what to say.
"He is still proud, and won't go to Arlington Street dressed like abargeman. He must needs plume, Miss Manners."
I glanced anxiously at Dorothy, and saw that she was neither satisfiednor appeased. Well I remembered every turn of her head, and every curveof her lip! In the meantime we were off through Cursitor Street at agallop, nearly causing the death of a ragged urchin at the corner ofChancery Lane. I had forgotten my eagerness to know whence they hadheard of my plight, when some words from Comyn aroused me.
"The carriage is Mr. Horace Walpole's, Richard. He has taken a greatfancy to you."
"But I have never so much as clapped eyes upon him!" I exclaimed inperplexity.
"How about his honour with whom you supped at Windsor? how about thelandlord you spun by the neck? You should have heard the company laughwhen Horry told us that! And Miss Dolly cried out that she was sure itmust be Richard, and none other. Is it not so, Miss Manners?"
"Really, my Lord, I can't remember," replied Dolly, looking out of thecoach window. "Who put those frightful skulls upon Temple Bar?"
Then the mystery of their coming was clear to me, and the superiorgentleman at the Castle Inn had been the fashionable dabbler in arts andletters and architecture of Strawberry Hill, of whom I remembered havingheard Dr. Courtenay speak, Horace Walpole. But I was then far tooconcerned about Dorothy to listen to more. Her face was still turnedaway from me, and she was silent. I could have cut out my tongue for myblunder. Presently, when we were nearly out of the Strand, she turnedupon me abruptly.
"We have not yet heard, Richard," she said, "how you got into such apredicament."
"Indeed, I don't know myself, Dolly. Some scoundrel bribed the captainof the slaver. For I take it Mr. Walpole has told you I was carried offon a slaver, if he