.

The very thought struck her with nameless terror.

Still she would not let this man see that she feared; she laughed gaily and lightly.
"Faith! and your impudence pases belief," she said merrily.

"Robbery and violence!--in England!--in a crowded inn! Your men might have been caught in the act!" "What if they had?
They are children of France, and have been trained by your humble servant.

Had they been caught they would have gone to jail, or even to the gallows, without a word of protest or indiscretion; at any rate it was well worth the risk.