After dinner, the landlord accosting
me in the yard, asked with a significant look, if the gentleman
that rode the sorrel belonged to our company? -- I understand his
meaning, but answered no; that he had come up with us on the
common, and helped us to drive away two fellows, that looked like
highwaymen -- He nodded three times distinctly, as much as to say,
he knows his cue. Then he inquired, if one of those men was
mounted on a bay mare, and the other on a chestnut gelding with a
white streak down his forehead? and being answered in the
affirmative, he assured me they had robbed three post-chaises
this very morning -- I inquired, in my turn, if Mr Martin was of
his acquaintance; and, nodding thrice again, he answered, that he
had seen the gentleman.
Before we left Hatfield, my uncle, fixing his eyes on Martin with
such expression as is more easily conceived than described,
asked, if he often travelled that road? and he replied with a
look which denoted his understanding the question, that he very
seldom did business in that part of the country. In a word, this
adventurer favoured us with his company to the neighbourhood of
Stevenage, where he took his leave of the coach and me, in very
polite terms, and turned off upon a crossroad, that led to a
village on the left -- At supper, Mrs Tabby was very full in the
praise of Mr Martin's good-sense and good-breeding, and seemed to
regret that she had not a further opportunity to make some
experiment upon his affection.
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