that hindered me; and it fell out well that it was so. For just
over the heath, as you come upon Topley, there sprang out upon me a
rider, who without any parley let fly at me with a pistol; and but that
the ball, badly aimed, glanced off from the stiff padding of my cloak, I
had not been here to tell this tale.

Before he could load again I spurred my horse, hoping to close with him.
But the wretched jade was no match in pace for his, and he got away.
But not before I had let fly my club at him, from twelve yards away, and
dealt him a crack on the cheek that should have caused him to bear me in
mind for a week. I expected him back after that, but being dazed by the
blow, and seeing that I was not the gentleman he took me for, he spurred
off; and I, waiting only to pick up my club and make sure that the
bullet had done me no harm, did the same, and rode on to Maidenhead.

Here an odd adventure befel me; for, going to the inn of the place where
I meant to lie that night, I found it in possession of a roystering crew
of gallants, who sat and quaffed their sack and sang lustily, roaring
and quarrelling enough to deafen a man. When, by dint of hard pushing,
I had made myself a seat at the table and called for my supper--for I
was hungry--they gave over their wrangling and began to look hard at me.
There was much whispering among them, and one said:

"I know the rogue in spite of his cloak. Call me an ass if there be not
a shaven crown under that hat of his."

"If you mean by that," said another cavalier, "that he's a Jesuit--"

Here the company took up the word. "A Jesuit!--a Jesuit!" they cried,
and at the sudden accusation I turned crimson and blushed like a girl.

"Smelt out?" cried the company. "To the gallows with him!" Then it
seemed to me to be time to go.

"Who called Jesuit?" said I, pulling out my sword.

They laughed at this, and one of them cried:

"If you be not, drink to the Queen, where you stand, and confound her
enemies!"

I took off my hat, that they might see I wore no monkish tonsure, and
drank.

"That shows nothing," cried another. "They might curse the Pope
himself, and yet be all the better Jesuits."

"A crew of cowards," said another, "who never dare be what they seem or
seem what they are--"

"Then," said I, "if that be so, I can easily prove I am a true and loyal
subject of the Queen. Let who will come on, two at a time, and take
back his lie at the point of my sword." And