Rupert, as was the custom of the younger members of families, waited upon the honoured guest.
The meal over, Mistress Holliday rose.

The earl offered her his hand and led her to the door, where, with an exchange of ceremonious salutes, she bade him goodnight.
Then the earl accompanied Colonel Holliday to the latter's room, hung with rapiers, swords, and other arms.

There ceremony was laid aside, and the old cavalier and the brilliant general entered into familiar talk, the former lighting a long pipe, of the kind known at present as a "churchwarden." The earl told Colonel Holliday of the discovery that had been made, that the attack was no mere affair with highwaymen, but an attempt at assassination by a political rival.
"I had been down," he said, "at Lord Hadleigh's, where there was a gathering of many gentlemen of our way of thinking.

I left London quietly, and thought that none knew of my absence; but it is clear that through some spy in my household my enemies learned both my journey and destination.

I came down on horseback, having sent forward relays.