I owe you my deep gratitude for rescue from these evil-minded men." "What may be your name, mistress ?" one of the watch asked.

"You will be needed tomorrow to testify against these men." "My name is Maria Von Duyk, and I reside at present with the worthy alderman, Peter Hawkins, to whom I was returning in the chair, as the chairmen will tell you, after a visit to Mistress Vanloct, whose house we had just left when molested." "And yours, young sir ?" the watchman asked.
"My name is Rupert Holliday.

I am staying at the Bell, in Bishopsgate Street." "You will both have to be present tomorrow morning before the worshipful magistrate Master Forman, at Westminster." The watch now secured the man on the ground, who was recovering from the effect of the violent thrust in the stomach, and putting handcuffs on him and the other, led them away.
"You will permit me, I trust, to escort you to your door," Rupert said, as he ceremoniously handed the young lady into her chair.
"Yes, indeed, sir; and I trust that you will enter, and allow Dame Hawkins to add her thanks to mine." Rupert bowed, and the chair being closed the chairmen lifted it, and with Rupert and Hugh following, proceeded eastward.
When they arrived at the house of Alderman Hawkins, in Lawrence Pulteney, the young lady on alighting begged Rupert to enter; but the latter excused himself on account of the hour, but said that he would call next morning, and would, if allowed, accompany her and the alderman to give evidence as to the assault.
On arriving next morning, Rupert was overwhelmed with thanks by the alderman, his wife, and Mistress Maria Von Duyk, all of whom were much surprised at his youth, for in the dim light of the preceding evening the young lady had not perceived that her rescuer was a mere lad.
Rupert found that there was no occasion to go before the magistrate, for the alderman having sent down early to the watch house to inquire at what hour their presence would be required, found that the prisoners had been rescued, on their way to the watch house, by a party of armed men.
"We are," the alderman said, "well aware who was the leader of the assailants, the man who escaped.

Sir Richard Fulke is a ruined gamester, and is a distant relation of Dame Vanloct, whom my young friend was yesterday visiting.

Knowing the wealth of Mistress Von Duyk's good father, he has sought to mend his ruined fortune by a match with her.