"
Edward then uncocked his gun, with his eyes fixed upon the man, and
the verderer did the same: and then they walked side by side, Edward
keeping at the distance of three yards from him, in case of treachery.
After a few moments' silence, the verderer said, "You tell me you are
going to the intendant's house; he is not at home."
"But young Mistress Patience is, I presume," said Edward.
"Yes," replied the man, who, finding that Edward appeared to know so
much about the intendant's family, began to be more civil. "Yes, she
is at home, for I saw her in the garden this morning."
"And Oswald, is he at home?" rejoined Edward.
"Yes, he is. You appear to know our people, young man; who may you be,
if it is a fair question?"
"It would have been a fair question had you treated me fairly,"
replied Edward; "but as it is no concern of yours, I shall leave you
to find it out."
This reply puzzled the man still more; and he now, from the tone of
authority assumed by Edward, began to imagine that he had made some
mistake, and that he was speaking to a superior, although clad in a
forester's dress. He therefore answered humbly, observing that he had
only been doing his duty.
Edward walked on without making any reply.
As they arrived within a hundred yards of the intendant's house Edward
said--
"I have now arrived at my destination, and am going into that house,
as I told you.
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