war be still; for there is music in thy voice.”  “Oh,” exclaimed our heroine, “let one touch of compassion approach thy soul.  Indeed, my lord, I can never have you.  Release me, and I will forgive what is past, and Damon shall never notice it.”  “Zounds and fire!” cried the peer, “dost thou think to prevail with me by the motives of a coward?  But why dost thou talk of Damon?  Look on me.  Behold this purple coat, and fine toupee.  Think on my estate, and think on my title.”

But at this moment the oratory of his lordship ceased to be heard.  At a small distance there appeared two persons, the one on foot, and whose air, so far as it could be perceived by the imperfect light, was genteel, and the other on horseback, engaged in earnest conference.  As the carriage drew towards them, Delia exclaimed, in a piercing, but pathetic voice, “Help! help! for God’s sake!  Rape!  Murder!  Help!” The voice immediately caught the young gentleman on foot, who approached the carriage.—­But before we proceed any farther we will inform our readers who these persons were.

The gentleman on foot, was Mr. Godfrey.  He was on a visit to a sister, who lived very near the spot upon which he now stood.  She was married to a substantial yeoman, who rented an estate in this place, the property of lord Thomas Villiers.  The beautiful scenes of nature were particularly congenial to the elegant said contemplative mind of Mr. Godfrey.  And he had now, as was frequently his custom, strolled out to enjoy the calm serenity, and the splendid beauty, of a midnight scene.  The man on horse-back was a thief taker, who, just before the carriage had driven up, had, without ceremony, accosted Mr. Godfrey with his enquiries, and a description of the person of whom he was in pursuit.

CHAPTER IX.

Which dismisses the Reader.

Mr. Godfrey, in a resolute tone, called out to the coachman to stop, and not contented with a verbal mandate, he rushed before the horses, and brandishing a club he held in his hand, bid the driver proceed at his peril.  “Drive on,” said lord Martin, thrusting his head out at the window—­“Drive on, and be damned to you!” At this moment the pimp rode up.  “It is nothing,” said he, “but a poor gentleman, who has just forced his wife from the arms of a gallant.”  “Oh no!” cried Delia.  “I am not his wife.  I am an innocent woman, whom he has forced from her father and her lover.”

The thief taker out of curiosity rode forward.  “That,” said he, fixing his eye upon the pimp, “that is the very rascal I am in search of.”  The pimp, who had only been borrowed by lord Martin of one of his more experienced acquaintance, no sooner heard the sound, than, accounting for it with infinite facility and readiness of mind, he turned about his horse, and attempted to fly.  One of the footmen, naturally a coward, and terrified at these incidents, with the meaning of which he was unacquainted, imitated his example.  The other came forward to the assistance of his master, and was laid prostrate upon the ground, by Mr. Godfrey with one blow.  The thief taker had the start of the pimp, and overtook him in a moment.