I used to see them frequently up to a
year ago, but since then, London and its follies have engulfed me."
"We'll devote ourselves to looking 'em up one o' these days!" said
Anthony. "Meantime I'm devilish hungry and I always dine at 'The Bull'
at Wrotham, so if you're quite ready, let's push on. By the way," he
continued, as I followed him into the yard, "did you notice that
chaise we passed just beyond Farningham--a black-bodied chaise, picked
out in yellow, with red wheels?"
"I did, Anthony--why?"
"Fool of a fellow seemed infernally agitated, actually had a pistol
ready for me, or so it seemed."
"I noticed his desperate attitude also,--and thought it very
singular."
"Demmit, yes, and what's more singular, I recognised the fool fellow
for the fellow I thrashed two years ago at the 'Jolly Waggoner'--Danby
his name is."
"Ah, to be sure!" I exclaimed. "I knew his face was familiar. Did you
see he had a lady with him?"
"No, what was she like?"
"I only caught the briefest glimpse--besides, she was heavily veiled
and seemed to be asleep--"
"Asleep!" exclaimed Anthony fiercely. "Asleep! By God, Perry, I'm
half-minded to wait until that damned chaise comes up and see for
myself."
"I beg you will do no such thing!" said I, abhorring the idea of
violence and possible bloodshed. "If you are hungry--so am I. Let us
get on to Wrotham and dinner." So we mounted and in due time descended
the steep hill into the pleasant village of Wrotham.
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