Morsfield reported ‘the scandal!’ in sharp headings.

’Turned her away.  Won’t have her enter his house—­grandest woman in all England!  Sent his dog to guard.  Think of it for an insult!  It’s insult upon insult.  I ’ve done my utmost to fire his marrow.  I did myself a good turn by following her up and entering that park with her.  I shall succeed; there ’s a look of it.  All I have—­my life—­is that woman’s.  I never knew what this devil’s torture was before I saw her.’

His friend was concerned for his veracity.  ‘Amy!’

’A common spotted snake.  She caught me young, and she didn’t carry me off, as I mean to carry off this glory of her sex—­she is:  you’ve seen her!—­and free her, and devote every minute of the rest of my days to her.  I say I must win the woman if I stop at nothing, or I perish; and if it ’s a failure, exit ’s my road.  I ’ve watched every atom she touched in a room, and would have heaped gold to have the chairs, tables, cups, carpets, mine.  I have two short letters written with her hand.  I ’d give two of my estates for two more.  If I were a beggar, and kept them, I should be rich.  Relieve me of that dog, and I toss you a thousand-pound note, and thank you from my soul, Cumnock.  You know what hangs on it.  Spur, you dolt, or she’ll be out of sight.’

They cantered upon application of the spur.  Captain Cumnock was an impecunious fearless rascal, therefore a parasite and a bully duellist; a thick-built north-countryman; a burly ape of the ultra-elegant; hunter, gamester, hard-drinker, man of pleasure.  His known readiness to fight was his trump-card at a period when the declining custom of the duel taxed men’s courage to brave the law and the Puritan in the interests of a privileged and menaced aristocracy.  An incident like the present was the passion in the dice-box to Cumnock.  Morsfield was of the order of men who can be generous up to the pitch of their desires.  Consequently, the world accounted him open-handed and devoted when enamoured.  Few men liked him; he was a hero with some women.  The women he trampled on; the men he despised.  To the lady of his choice he sincerely offered his fortune and his life for the enjoyment of her favour.  His ostentation and his offensive daring combined the characteristics of the peacock and the hawk.  Always near upon madness, there were occasions when he could eclipse the insane.  He had a ringing renown in his class.

Chariot and horsemen arrived at the Roebuck Arms, at the centre of the small town of Ashead, on the line from Steignton through Rowsley.  The pair of cavaliers dismounted and hustled Weyburn in assisting the ladies to descend.

The ladies entered the inn; they declined refection of any sort.  They had biscuits and sweetmeats, and looked forward to tea at a farther stage.  Captain Cumnock stooped to their verdict on themselves, with marvel at the quantity of flesh they managed to put on their bones from such dieting.