‘Should we not go at once? I am sure Joseph will be off now without waiting for his coffee!’
‘Very likely, but you have no need to be uneasy: we shall overtake him soon enough.’
They overtook him even sooner than Sir Julian had expected. Only fifteen miles from Newbury, where the road passed between the great trees of Savernake Forest, a solitary figure came into view, leading a very lame nag.
‘It’s Joseph!’ exclaimed Miss Trent. ‘Poor Joseph!’ she added piously.
‘Humbug!’ retorted Sir Julian, a note in his voice no other lady had as yet been privileged to hear.
She laughed. Mr Selsey, upon hearing the muffled beat of horses’ hooves, wheeled about, and, although he must have perceived who was driving the curricle, placed himself in its way, and waved his arms. Sir Julian drew up, and sat looking down at him with a sardonic lift to his brows.
‘Sir,’ said Mr Selsey in a voice of deep chagrin, ‘I find myself forced to request you to take me up as far as to the next town!’
‘But you cannot leave the poor horse!’ said Miss Trent. ‘Besides, it belongs to the Pelican!’
‘No, it does not!’ said her cousin angrily. ‘It belongs to a rascally thief! He took my horse and my purse, and left me with this jade!’
‘A highwayman? Oh, what an adventure!’ cried Miss Trent.
Mr Selsey ground his teeth.
‘You have only three or four miles to walk before you reach Marlborough,’ said Sir Julian helpfully. ‘Stand away from my horses’ heads!’
‘But I have no money!’ shouted Mr Selsey.
Sir Julian’s pair
began to move forward. Miss Trent said quickly: ‘No, no, we can’t leave him in such a case! It would be too shabby!’
Sir Julian glanced curiously down at her earnest little face. ‘Do you wish him to reach Bath?’
‘Yes!’ said Miss Trent resolutely.
‘Very well. I will leave word with the landlord of the Castle Inn, sir, and he will provide you with a conveyance,’ said Sir Julian, and drove on.
Mr Selsey, by no means content, bawled after the curricle: ‘And you stole my rug, you hussy!’
‘Oh, dear!’ said Miss Trent, dismayed. ‘It is quite true, I did! We ought to have taken him up, perhaps!’
‘Nonsense! A walk will do him good.’
‘Yes, but if his purse has been taken he won’t be able to hire a chaise, even if you do bespeak one!’ objected Miss Trent.
‘Have no fear! I will arrange the whole, since you wish it.’
‘I think you have the most extravagant notions!’ said Miss Trent severely. ‘And, pray, how am I ever to repay you?’
‘Very easily.’
‘No, how?’
‘By satisfying my curiosity and telling me why we are racing Joseph to Bath!’
‘Did I not do so?’ she cried, astonished. ‘I quite thought I had explained it to you! I have the greatest hope that I may win a fortune!’
‘Then in that case you will be able to pay your debts, and you have nothing to worry about,’ said Sir Julian, only the merest quiver in his voice betraying him.
‘Yes, but I shan’t win it quite immediately,’ she said. ‘Not until my grandfather dies, and although he seems to think that will be soon, there is no telling, after all!’