As to Hyder, it is supposed he has ensured her
fidelity by borrowing the greater part of her treasures, which prevents
her from daring to break with him--besides other causes that smack of
scandal of another sort."
"A singular story," replied Hartley to his companion, while his heart
dwelt on the question, How it was possible that the gentle and simple
Menie Gray should be in the train of such a character as this
adventuress?
"But Butler has not told you the best of it," said Major Mercer, who by
this time came round to finish his own story. "Your old acquaintance,
Mr. Tresham, or Mr. Middlemas, or whatever else he chooses to be called,
has been complimented by a report, that he stood very high in the good
graces of this same Boadicea. He certainly commanded some troops which
she stills keeps on foot, and acted at their head in the Nawaub's
service, who craftily employed him in whatever could render him odious
to his countrymen. The British prisoners were intrusted to his charge,
and, to judge by what I felt myself, the devil might take a lesson from
him in severity."
"And was he attached to, or connected with, this woman?"
"So Mrs. Rumour told us in our dungeon. Poor Jack Ward had the bastinado
for celebrating their merits in a parody on the playhouse song,
'Sure such a pair were never seen,
So aptly formed to meet by nature.'"
Hartley could listen no longer.
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