THE KIDNAPPING The rejoicing had reached its apogee, and was on the wane.

The Puritan had stretched his austereness to the point of levity; the Dutchman had comfortably sweated his obedience and content; the Cavalier had paced it with a pretty air of patronage and an eye for matron and maid; the Indian, come from his far hunting-grounds, bivouacked in the governor's presence as the pipe of peace went round.
About twilight the governor and his party had gone home.

Deep in ceremonial as he had been, his mind had run upon Bucklaw and the Spaniards' country.

So, when the dusk was growing into night, the hour came for his visit to the Nell Gwynn.

With his two soldier friends and Councillor Drayton, he started by a roundabout for the point where he looked to find Bucklaw.