nd, and I followed you all the way. When you stopped,
I tethered little Ginger in a grove, and I crept after you through the
wood. It's as well I did, for the whole parish was up!"

But Tom Spring was sitting gazing at him in blank amazement.

"His lordship!" he gasped.

"No less, my boy. Lord Falconbridge, Chairman of the Bench, Deputy
Lieutenant of the County, Peer of the Realm--that's your man."

"Good Lord!"

"And you didn't know? It's as well, for maybe you wouldn't have whacked
it in as hard if you had; and, mind you, if you hadn't, he'd have beat
you. There's not a man in this county could stand up to him. He takes
the poachers and gipsies two and three at a time. He's the terror of the
place. But you did him--did him fair. Oh, man, it was fine!"

Tom Spring was too much dazed by what he heard to do more than sit and
wonder. It was not until he had got back to the comforts of the inn, and
after a bath had partaken of a solid meal, that he sent for Mr. Cordery
the landlord. To him he confided the whole train of events which had led
up to his remarkable experience, and he begged him to throw such light
as he could upon it. Cordery listened with keen interest and many
chuckles to the story. Finally he left the room and returned with a
frayed newspaper in his hand, which he smoothed out upon his knee.

"It's the _Pantiles Gazette_, Mr. Spring, as gossiping a rag as ever was
printed. I expect there will be a fine column in it if ever it gets its
prying nose into this day's doings. However, we are mum and her ladyship
is mum, and, my word! his lordship is mum, though he did, in his
passion, raise the hue and cry on you. Here it is, Mr. Spring, and I'll
read it to you while you smoke your pipe. It's dated July of last year,
and it goes like this--

"'FRACAS IN HIGH LIFE.--It is an open secret that the differences which
have for some years been known to exist between Lord F---- and his
beautiful wife have come to a head during the last few days. His
lordship's devotion to sport, and also, as it is whispered, some
attentions which he has shown to a humbler member of his household,
have, it is said, long alienated Lady F----'s affection. Of late she
has sought consolation and friendship with a gentleman whom we will
designate as Sir George W----n. Sir George, who is a famous ladykiller,
and as well-proportioned a man as any in England, took kindly to the
task of consoling the disconsolate fair. The upshot, however,