"We kiss my Lady Marchioness's hand," says Mr. Holt.

"My lord, God speed you!" she said, stepping up and embracing my lord in
a grand manner. "Mr. Holt, I ask your blessing:" and she knelt down for
that, whilst Mrs. Tusher tossed her head up.

Mr. Holt gave the same benediction to the little page, who went down
and held my lord's stirrups for him to mount; there were two servants
waiting there too--and they rode out of Castlewood gate.

As they crossed the bridge, Harry could see an officer in scarlet ride
up touching his hat, and address my lord.

The party stopped, and came to some parley or discussion, which
presently ended, my lord putting his horse into a canter after taking
off his hat and making a bow to the officer, who rode alongside him step
for step: the trooper accompanying him falling back, and riding with my
lord's two men. They cantered over the Green, and behind the elms (my
lord waving his hand, Harry thought), and so they disappeared. That
evening we had a great panic, the cow-boy coming at milking-time riding
one of our horses, which he had found grazing at the outer park-wall.

All night my Lady Viscountess was in a very quiet and subdued mood.
She scarce found fault with anybody; she played at cards for six hours;
little page Esmond went to sleep. He prayed for my lord and the good
cause before closing his eyes.

It was quite in the gray of the morning when the porter's bell rang, and
old Lockwood, waking up, let in one of my lord's servants, who had gone
with him in the morning, and who returned with a melancholy story. The
officer who rode up to my lord had, it appeared, said to him, that it
was his duty to inform his lordship that he was not under arrest, but
under surveillance, and to request him not to ride abroad that day.

My lord replied that riding was good for his health, that if the Captain
chose to accompany him he was welcome; and it was then that he made a
bow, and they cantered away together.

When he came on to Wansey Down, my lord all of a sudden pulled up, and
the party came to a halt at the cross-way.

"Sir," says he to the officer, "we are four to two; will you be so kind
as to take that road, and leave me go mine?"

"Your road is mine, my lord," says the officer.

"Then--" says my lord; but he had no time to say more, for the officer,
drawing a pistol, snapped it at his lordship; as at the same moment
Father Holt, drawing a pistol, shot the officer through the he