He replied, that there was no other of his name in
the whole country; that no such horseman had alighted at the Red
Lion since nine o'clock, when he arrived -- that having had the
honour to serve his majesty, he thought he could not decently
decline any invitation of this kind, from what quarter soever it
might come, and that if any explanation was necessary, it did not
belong to him to demand it, but to the gentleman who summoned
him into the field. Vexed as I was at this adventure, I could not
help admiring the coolness of this officer, whose open
countenance prepossessed me in his favour. He seemed to be turned
of forty; wore his own short black hair, which curled naturally
about his ears, and was very plain in his apparel -- When I begged
pardon for the trouble I had given him, he received my apology
with great good humour. -- He told me that he lived about ten miles
off, at a small farm-house, which would afford me tolerable
lodging, if I would come and take diversion of hunting with him
for a few weeks; in which case we might, perhaps, find out the
man who had given me offence -- I thanked him very sincerely for
his courteous offer, which, I told him, I was not at liberty to
accept at present, on account of my being engaged in a family
party; and so we parted, with mutual professions of good will and
esteem.
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