But, just as one of them began to eye me,
I was rudely thrust into a narrow close by one of the guardsmen. I
had heard to what house the party was bound, for the men were
talking exceedingly loud, and making no secret of it: so I hasted
down the close, and round below to the one where their
rendezvous was to be; but I was too late, they were all housed and
the door bolted. I resolved to wait, thinking they could not all stay
long; but I was perishing with famine, and was like to fall down.
The moon shone as bright as day, and I perceived, by a sign at the
bottom of the close, that there was a small tavern of a certain
description up two stairs there. I went up and called, telling the
mistress of the house my plan. She approved of it mainly, and
offered me her best apartment, provided I could get one of these
noble mates to accompany me. She abused Lucky Sudds, as she
called her, at the inn where the party was, envying her huge
profits, no doubt, and giving me afterwards something to drink
for which I really felt exceedingly grateful in my need. I stepped
downstairs in order to be on the alert. The moment that I reached
the ground, the door of Lucky Sudds' house opened and shut, and
down came the Honourable Thomas Drummond, with hasty and
impassioned strides, his sword rattling at his heel.
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121