At first the man of medicine hummed and hawed, put on a
look of importance, and talked of his reputation, etc., but at length
allowed himself to be over-ruled, seeing the extreme urgency of the
case, and consented to give the landlord a little harmless sleeping
dose, which he could mix with their wine or whatever they called for. Dr. Bleedem now went inside, presumably to concoct the charm by which
occult power the evil designs of their enemies were to be frustrated,
leaving our host and the antiquary discoursing together outside in low
tones. As these two individuals were gazing towards the horizon, a small
cloud of dust was presently discernible. "Seems to be coming this way," said our host, after a pause. "Wonder
if----"

"Ah, just so," broke in Oldstone. "Shouldn't wonder if it _were_ our
expected guest. He won't make any unnecessary delay, I warrant." "Sure enough it's a carriage and pair with a liveried coachman and
footman," observed the landlord. "How they tear along! Oh, it's his
lordship, without doubt. I must go and warn my daughter." Our host was somewhat tardy in arriving at this decision, for a stately
carriage emblazoned with an escutcheon with innumerable quarterings, and
surmounted by a coronet, had now driven up to the door of the inn, and
both Dame Hearty and Helen were on the doorstep to welcome the new
arrivals. A gorgeous footman descended to open the carriage door, and out stepped
a young man of middle height, slim and somewhat graceful of figure,
dressed in the very height of fashion. Behind him stepped a
powerfully-built man, respectably dressed in black, with a plebeian and
repulsive countenance. Our landlord came forward and saluted both guests gravely. "We want two bedrooms and a sitting-room, landlord, and should like to
dine in an hour," said Lord Scampford; for it was none other. Then
putting up his spy-glass, he gazed at Helen from head to foot in an
impertinent manner, and the two men exchanged a look of intelligence. The coachman and footman likewise followed their lord's gaze, and smiled
approvingly. Our antiquary was making his observations in the background whilst Jack
Hearty was busying himself with the luggage. As our host passed his
daughter in the passage he found time to say, _sotto voce_, "Helen, my
girl, shut yourself up in your room till I call you. I want to speak to
you." Now it was not often that her father spoke to her in so serious a tone,
and these words, coupled with the impression she had already formed of
Lord Scampford and his companion, which was not a favourable one, caused
her to tremble and turn pale. She knew there was much in the world that
she could not understand, and it seemed to be considered wise not to
make enquiries. She asked no question therefore, but shut herself up
within her room as desired. No sooner was the landlord able to break
away from his new customers, than he ascended to his daughter's chamber
and knocked at the door. Helen unlocked it, and her father entered. "My daughter," he said, "I wish you to keep as much to yourself as
possible during the stay of these gentlemen below. I have my reasons. I
know more than you do, so do not ask why. Enough that it is my wish." In the good old times, parents' commands were not disputed, but humbly
and reverently obeyed. So Helen, with downcast eyes and hands crossed
upon her breast, answered respectfully, "It is well, sir." "If, by any chance, they should cross your path while you are engaged in
your household duties," continued her father, "and should address you,
let your answers be short, though civil. Remain not long in their
presence, but speedily withdraw. Moreover, if they should be sitting
over their wine and should invite you to drink, to pledge them in a
toast, drink not. No, not even a _sip_ to please them. My daughter,
there is danger ahead, and I warn you beforehand. You are young and
unversed in the wickedness of the world, but obey me to the letter and
you are safe. Heed not their advances or their flattery, but shun them
as a pest." Having thus delivered himself, our worthy host turned on his heel and
left the chamber. "I understand nothing, sir, but I obey," answered Helen, dutifully. That evening Dame Hearty herself served his lordship and the man whom he
was pleased to represent as his friend. Many were the questions that
were put to our hostess about her daughter, and many the subterfuges she
had to resort to in order to prevent Helen from putting in an
appearance. Whilst thus engaged in conversation with the landlady, Jack
Hearty found it no difficult task to enter the sleeping room of his
guests and to extract all the bullets from their pistols, without having
recourse to Dr. Bleedem's potent charm. The evening passed over quietly,
and there was no appearance of Helen. A week now passed by, and neither Lord Scampford nor his man seemed to
be able to make any headway. "Tell you what it is, Tuppings," said his
lordship one day to his bully, deeming himself unheard, although every
word fell distinctly on the ears of our host, "I am getting tired of
these eternal subterfuges. It's enough to kill a man outright with
_ennui_, to vegetate day after day in this wilderness; yet leave the
place without her I _will_ not." "You may depend upon it, my lord," said the man in black, "that they
knew of our coming beforehand, and have been forewarned." "I wish I knew who it was," rejoined his lordship; "I'ld be even with
him. The only person interested in the matter would be Lord Dodgemore,
who naturally would do all in his power to make me lose my wager. I
laid him a thousand pounds that I would make her my mistress within a
fortnight, and I don't intend to become the laughing-stock of my friends
on my return." "Then your lordship has not a moment to lose. Half the time has already
slipped by, and we are no nearer than on the evening of our arrival,"
murmured the bully. "That we are being hoaxed is as plain as a pike-staff," observed his
lordship. "On our first evening the girl was engaged serving the members of the
club. The next day she was indisposed and confined to her room. After
that she was on a visit to her aunt, who is ill, and what with one
excuse and then another--oh! it's sickening. I came across the little
jade unexpectedly the other day, and tried to detain her with a little
pleasant chat. You should have seen the dignified air she put on, as
with a 'by your leave, my lord, I am overpressed for time,' she
curtesyed and passed by. What has come to these simple seeming rustics
of late I am at a loss to imagine." "If your lordship should deign to follow my advice----"

"Well." "I would suggest that we should take the bull by the horns and make
short work of it." "How?" "Pick the lock of her bedroom door. Gag her and carry her out of bed
downstairs, wrap a warm cloak around her, and lift her into the
carriage, which must be waiting for us only a few paces off. Then, head
for the nearest township, and so on, to London.