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seeing that Mr Haredale took little heed of what Hugh said or did；
and that his thoughts were otherwise employed； he offered no
apology； and went in silence down the stairs； across the walk； and
through the garden…gate。 They stopped upon the outer side for
Hugh to hold the light while Mr Haredale locked it on the inner；
and then John saw with wonder （as he often afterwards related）；
that he was very pale； and that his face had changed so much and
grown so haggard since their entrance； that he almost seemed
another man。
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They were in the open road again； and John Willet was walking
on behind his escort； as he had come； thinking very steadily of
what be had just now seen； when Hugh drew him suddenly aside；
and almost at the same instant three horsemen swept past—the
nearest brushed his shoulder even then—who； checking their
steeds as suddenly as they could； stood still； and waited for their
coming up。
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Chapter 35
hen John Willet saw that the horsemen wheeled
Wsmartly round； and drew up three abreast in the narrow
road； waiting for him and his man to join them； it
occurred to him with unusual precipitation that they must be
highwaymen； and had Hugh been armed with a blunderbuss； in
place of his stout cudgel； he would certainly have ordered him to
fire it off at a venture； and would； while the word of command was
obeyed； have consulted his own personal safety in immediate
flight。 Under the circumstances of disadvantage； however； in
which he and his guard were placed； he deemed it prudent to
adopt a different style of generalship； and therefore whispered his
attendant to address them in the most peaceable and courteous
terms。 By way of acting up to the spirit and letter of this
instruction； Hugh stepped forward； and flourishing his staff before
the very eyes of the rider nearest to him； demanded roughly what
he and his fellows meant by so nearly galloping over them； and
why they scoured the king’s highway at that late hour of night。
The man whom be addressed was beginning an angry reply in
the same strain； when be was checked by the horseman in the
centre； who； interposing with an air of authority； inquired in a
somewhat loud but not harsh or unpleasant voice：
‘Pray； is this the London road？’
‘If you follow it right； it is；’ replied Hugh roughly。
‘Nay； brother；’ said the same person； ‘you’re but a churlish
Englishman； if Englishman you be—which I should much doubt
but for your tongue。 Your companion； I am sure； will answer me
more civilly。 How say you； friend？’
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‘I say it is the London road； sir；’ answered John。 ‘And I wish；’ he
added in a subdued voice； as he turned to Hugh； ‘that you was in
any other road； you vagabond。 Are you tired of your life； sir； that
you go a…trying to provoke three great neck…or…nothing chaps； that
could keep on running over us； back’ards and for’ards； till we was
dead； and then take our bodies up behind ’em； and drown us ten
miles off？’
‘How far is it to London？’ inquired the same speaker。
‘Why； from here； sir；’ answered John； persuasively； ‘it’s thirteen
very easy mile。’
The adjective was thrown in； as an inducement to the travellers
to ride away with all speed； but instead of having the desired
effect； it elicited from the same person； the remark； ‘Thirteen
miles！ That’s a long distance！’ which was followed by a short pause
of indecision。
‘Pray；’ said the gentleman； ‘are there any inns hereabouts？’ At
the word ‘inns；’ John plucked up his spirit in a surprising manner；
his fears rolled off like smoke； all the landlord stirred within him。
‘There are no inns；’ rejoined Mr Willet； with a strong emphasis
on the plural number； ‘but there’s a Inn—one Inn—the Maypole
Inn。 That’s a Inn indeed。 You won’t see the like of that Inn often。’
‘You keep it； perhaps？’ said the horseman； smiling。
‘I do； sir；’ replied John； greatly wondering how he had found
this out。
‘And how far is the Maypole from here？’
‘About a mile’—John was going to add that it was the easiest
mile in all the world； when the third rider； who had hitherto kept a
little in the rear； suddenly interposed：
‘And have you one excellent bed； landlord？ Hem！ A bed that
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you can recommend—a bed that you are sure is well aired—a bed
that has been slept in by some perfectly respectable and
unexceptionable person？’
‘We don’t take in no tagrag and bobtail at our house； sir；’
answered John。 ‘And as to the bed itself—’
‘Say； as to three beds；’ interposed the gentleman who had
spoken before； ‘for we shall want three if we stay； though my
friend only speaks of one。’
‘No； no； my lord； you are too good； you are too kind； but your
life is of far too much importance to the nation in these portentous
times； to be placed upon a level with one so useless and so poor as
mine。 A great cause； my lord； a mighty cause； depends on you。 You
are its leader and its champion； its advanced guard and its van。 It
is the cause of our altars and our homes； our country and our faith。
Let me sleep on a chair—the carpet—anywhere。 No one will
repine if I take cold or fever。 Let John Grueby pass the night
beneath the open sky—no one will repine for him。 But forty
thousand men of this our island in the wave