Page:Paul Clifford Vol 3.djvu/137

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PAUL CLIFFORD.
129

Bob, turning round to the gaoler, cries, 'Flung the governor out of a guinea, by G—d!'[1] Now, that's what I calls keeping it up to the last!"

Mr. Nabbem had scarcely finished this anecdote, when the farmer-like stranger, who had kept up by the side of the chaise, suddenly rode to the window, and, touching his hat, said in a Norfolk accent, "Were the gentlemen we met on the road belonging to your party? They were asking after a chaise and pair."

"No!" said Nabbem, "there be no gentlemen as belongs to our party!" So saying, he tipped a knowing wink at the farmer, and glanced over his shoulder at the prisoners.

"What! you are going all alone?" said the farmer.

"Ay, to be sure," answered Nabbem; "not much danger, I think, in the day-time, with the sun out as big as a sixpence, which is as big as ever I see'd him in this country!"

At that moment, the shorter stranger, whose appearance had attracted the praise of Mr. Nabbem,—(that personage was himself very short and

  1. Fact.