“He had better go no farther than Cowley Church, indeed,” said a man who was sitting in the bar, as soon as he was gone; “for if he be going to Master Plessis’s, he’ll be half a mile beyond the turning by that time.”

“Jenkin, Jenkin!” cried the landlord, not minding what his guest said, but addressing a boy who was cleaning some pewter stoups in a kitchen at the end of the passage—­“come here, my man.  Run down by the lanes as fast as you can go, and tell Master Plessis that there are two gentlemen coming to his house, whose looks I don’t like at all.  One is a state messenger, if I’m not much mistaken.  I’ve seen his face before, I’m sure enough, and I think it was when Evans the coiner was taken up at Stroud.  You can get there half an hour before them, if you run away straight by the lanes.”

The boy lost not a moment, very sure that any one who brought Monsieur Plessis intelligence of importance would get something at least for his pains.

In the meantime, Wilton and his companion walked on.  The sky was clear above, but it had already become very dark, and a doubt occurred, both at the first and second turning, as to whether they were right.  Wilton and the Messenger had furnished themselves with pistols, besides their swords; and the young gentleman paused for a moment to ascertain that the priming had not fallen out; but nothing would induce the Messenger to do so likewise; for his sullen mood had seized upon him again more strongly than ever, and he merely replied that his pistols would do very well, and that it would be lucky if Mr. Brown were as sure of his way as he was of his pistols.

“I should like you to give me my orders, Mr. Brown,” he added, in the same dogged tone, “for I am always glad to know beforehand what it is I am to do, that I may be ready to do it.”

“I shall of course give orders,” replied Wilton, somewhat sharply, “when they are required, Mr. Arden.  At the present moment, however, I have only to tell you that I expect every minute to meet a person who will lead us to the house where Lady Laura is detained.  At that house, we shall have to encounter, I understand, a number of persons whose interest and design is to carry her off, probably to the coast of France.  I intend to demand her in a peaceable and tranquil manner, and in case they refuse to give her up, must act according to circumstances.  I expect your support on all the legal points of the case, such as the due notice of our authority, et cetera; and, in case it should become necessary or prudent either to menace or to use force, I will tell you at the time.”