“Beg pardon, ma’am,” said he, so soon as he had released Mrs. Mowbray; “excessively sorry, upon my soul, to have been the cause of so much unnecessary alarm to you—all the fault, I assure you, of that rascal of a postilion; had the fellow only pulled up when I commanded him, this botheration might have been avoided. You will remember that, when you pay him—all his fault, I assure you, ma’am.”
Receiving no reply, he proceeded to extricate Eleanor, with whose beauty the inflammable highwayman was instantly smitten. Leaving the father to shift for himself, he turned to address some observation of coarse gallantry to her: but she eluded his grasp, and flew to her mother’s side.
“It is useless, sir,” said Mrs. Mowbray, as Turpin drew near them, “to affect ignorance of your intentions. You have already occasioned us serious alarm; much delay and inconvenience. I trust, therefore, that beyond our purses, to which, though scantily supplied, you are welcome, we shall sustain no molestation. You seem to have less of the ruffian about you than the rest of your lawless race, and are not, I should hope destitute of common humanity.”
“Common humanity!” replied Turpin: “bless you, ma’am, I’m the most humane creature breathing—would not hurt a fly, much less a lady. Incivility was never laid to my charge. This business may be managed in a few seconds; and as soon as we have settled the matter, I’ll lend your stupid jack-boy a hand to put the horses to the carriage again, and get the wheels out of the ditch. You have a banker, ma’am, I suppose in town—perhaps in the country; but I don’t like country bankers; besides, I want a little ready cash in Rumville—beg pardon, ma’am, London I mean. My ears have been so stunned with those Romany patterers, I almost think in flash. Just draw me a cheque; I’ve pen and ink always ready: a cheque for fifty pounds, ma’am—only fifty. What’s your banker’s name? I’ve blank cheques of all the best houses in my pocket; that and a kiss from the pretty lips of that cherry-cheek’d maid,” winking to Eleanor, “will fully content me. You see you have neither an exorbitant nor uncivil personage to deal with.”
Eleanor shrank closer towards her mother. Exhausted by previous agitation of the night, greatly frightened by the shock which she had just sustained, and still more alarmed by the words and gestures of the highwayman, she felt that she was momentarily in danger of fainting, and with difficulty prevented herself from falling. The priest, who had succeeded in freeing himself from the carriage, now placed himself between Turpin and the ladies.
“Be satisfied, misguided man,” said the father, in a stern voice, offering a purse, which Mrs. Mowbray hastily extended towards him, “with the crime you have already committed, and seek not to peril your soul by deeper guilt; be content with the plunder you now obtain, and depart; for, by my holy calling, I affirm to you, that if you advance one footstep toward the further molestation of these ladies, it shall be at the hazard of your life.”
“Bravo!” exclaimed Turpin. “Now this is what I like; who would have thought the old autem-bawler had so much pluck in him? Sir, I commend you for your courage, but you are mistaken. I am the quietest man breathing, and never harm a human being; in proof of which, only look at your rascal of a postilion, whom any one of my friends would have sent posthaste to the devil for half the trouble he gave me. Easy as I am, I never choose to be balked in my humours. I must have the fifty and the buss, and then I’m off, as soon as you like; and I may as well have the kiss while the old lady signs the cheque, and then we shall have the seal as well as the signature. Poh—poh—no nonsense! Many a pretty lass has thought it an honour to be kissed by Turpin.”
Eleanor recoiled with deepest disgust, as she saw the highwayman thrust aside the useless opposition of the priest, and approach her. He had removed his mask; his face, flushed with insolent triumph, was turned towards her. Despite the loathing which curdled the blood within her veins, she could not avert her eyes. He drew near her; she uttered a shrill scream. At that moment a powerful grasp was laid upon Turpin’s shoulder; he turned and beheld Luke.