'
He was accordingly provided with a case of pistols, and a carbine
to be flung a-cross his shoulders; and every other preparation
being made, we set out last Thursday, at seven in the morning; my
uncle, with the three women in the coach; Humphry, well mounted
on a black gelding bought for his use; myself a-horseback,
attended by my new valet, Mr Dutton, an exceeding coxcomb, fresh
from his travels, whom I have taken upon trial -- The fellow wears
a solitaire, uses paint, and takes rappee with all the grimace of
a French marquis. At present, however, he is in a ridingdress,
jack-boots, leather breeches, a scarlet waistcoat, with gold
binding, a laced hat, a hanger, a French posting-whip in his
hand, and his hair en queue.
Before we had gone nine miles, my horse lost one of his shoes; so
that I was obliged to stop at Barnet to have another, while the
coach proceeded at an easy pace over the common. About a mile
short of Hatfield, the postilions, stopping the carriage, gave
notice to Clinker that there were two suspicious fellows a-horseback,
at the end of a lane, who semed waiting to attack the
coach. Humphry forthwith apprised my uncle, declaring he would
stand by him to the last drop of his blood; and unflinging his
carbine, prepared for action.
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