"What is this?
A woman with a man's hat and coat! There is something wrong here," and leaning down he caught her by the collar.

She saw by the light of his lantern that he was a mounted patrol.
"It is quite true, constable," she said.

"I have put these things on in a hurry, but I am going to see Mr.Withers on a question of life and death.

Take me to the vicarage, and if when you get there you find my story is not true you can lock me up if you like." The constable was puzzled.

The voice was apparently that of a lady, and yet her attire, and her presence abroad at two o'clock in the morning, was suspicious in the extreme.