"I
will take you to the village lockup and go up to him in the morning."
"Please don't do that," she said. "I am a lady, and have a very good
reason for what I am doing. I can promise you that Mr. Withers will
not be angry at being called up; indeed he will be greatly pleased.
Come, constable," she went on, seeing that he hesitated, "I will give
you a couple of guineas to take me direct to the vicarage."
"Well, ma'am," the constable said, "if you are sure Mr. Withers will
not be angry at being called up at such an hour I will take you; but
you know he is a magistrate, and it would never do to play tricks upon
him."
"There are no tricks, constable. He knows me very well, and will be
pleased to see me even at this hour."
Greatly puzzled over the whole proceeding the constable turned, and
still keeping a firm hold of her collar walked his horse back toward
the village.
"You really need not hold me so tightly," Mrs. Conway said. "If I
wanted to get away I could have done so in a moment; for I have a
pistol in my pocket, and could have shot you the moment you turned
your lantern away from me."
Somewhat startled at this information the constable released his hold,
satisfied that his prisoner could not escape by speed. As a measure of
precaution he made her walk a pace or two ahead, and kept the light of
his lantern upon her while he held his pistol ready for action in his
hand in case she should suddenly turn upon him.
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