‘Ah!’ said he.  ’Red weskits.  Runners.  Bow Street runners.  Two on’ em, and one was Lavender himself!  I hear the other say quite plain, “Now, Mr. Lavender, if you’re ready.”  They was breakfasting as nigh me as I am to that postboy.  They’re all right; they ain’t after us.  It’s a forger; and I didn’t send them off on a false scent—­O no!  I thought there was no use in having them over our way; so I give them “very valuable information,” Mr. Lavender said, and tipped me a tizzy for myself; and they’re off to Luton.  They showed me the ’andcuffs, too—­the other one did—­and he clicked the dratted things on my wrist; and I tell you, I believe I nearly went off in a swound!  There’s something so beastly in the feel of them!  Begging your pardon, Mr. Anne,’ he added, with one of his delicious changes from the character of the confidential schoolboy into that of the trained, respectful servant.

Well, I must not be proud!  I cannot say I found the subject of handcuffs to my fancy; and it was with more asperity than was needful that I reproved him for the slip about the name.

‘Yes, Mr. Ramornie,’ says he, touching his hat.  ’Begging your pardon, Mr. Ramornie.  But I’ve been very piticular, sir, up to now; and you may trust me to be very piticular in the future.  It were only a slip, sir.’

‘My good boy,’ said I, with the most imposing severity, ’there must be no slips.  Be so good as to remember that my life is at stake.’

I did not embrace the occasion of telling him how many I had made myself.  It is my principle that an officer must never be wrong.  I have seen two divisions beating their brains out for a fortnight against a worthless and quite impregnable castle in a pass:  I knew we were only doing it for discipline, because the General had said so at first, and had not yet found any way out of his own words; and I highly admired his force of character, and throughout these operations thought my life exposed in a very good cause.  With fools and children, which included Rowley, the necessity was even greater.  I proposed to myself to be infallible; and even when he expressed some wonder at the purchase of the claret-coloured chaise, I put him promptly in his place.  In our situation, I told him, everything had to be sacrificed to appearances; doubtless, in a hired chaise, we should have had more freedom, but look at the dignity!  I was so positive, that I had sometimes almost convinced myself.  Not for long, you may be certain!  This detestable conveyance always appeared to me to be laden with Bow Street officers, and to have a placard upon the back of it publishing my name and crimes.  If I had paid seventy pounds to get the thing, I should not have stuck at seven hundred to be safely rid of it.