mademoiselle," I said. "Oui. Merci." So out I went to where the mare
stood. She followed me to the door to see me take the mare. There was no
escape; she was going to delay me at the door till the man returned. I
patted the lovely creature's neck. I was very well used to horses, for
in the Broad Country a man must ride almost as much as he must row. But
I was not so taken up with this mare that I did not take good stock of
the lady, who, for her part, watched me pretty narrowly, as though she
meant never to forget me. I began to walk the beast in the road in
front of the inn, wondering how in the world I was to get out of the
difficulty before the Duke's carriage arrived. There was the woman
watching me, with a satirical smile. She was evidently enjoying the
sight of my crestfallen face.

Now in my misery a wild thought occurred to me. I began to time my
walking of the mare so that I was walking towards Sandfoort, while the
other horse-boy was walking with my nag towards Egmont on the other side
of the inn. I had read that in desperate cases the desperate remedy is
the only measure to be tried. While I was walking away from the inn I
drew the dagger, the spoils of war. I drew it very gently as though I
were merely buttoning my waistcoat. Then with one swift cut I drew it
nine-tenths through the girth. I did nothing more for that turn, though
I only bided my time. After a turn or two more, the other horse-boy was
called up to the inn by the lady to receive a drink of beer. No doubt
she was going to question him (as he drank) about the reason for his
being there. He walked up leisurely, full of smiles at the beer, leaving
his nag fast to a hook in the wall some dozen yards from the door.
This was a better chance than I had hoped for; so drawing my dagger,
I resolved to put things to the test. I ripped the reins off the mare
close to the bit. Then with a loud shout followed by a whack in the
flank, I frightened that lovely mare right into them, almost into the
inn-door. Before they knew what had happened I was at my own horse's
head swiftly casting off the reins from the hook. Before they had turned
to pursue me, I was in the saddle, going at a quick trot towards Egmont,
while the mare was charging down the road behind me, with her saddle
under her belly, giving her the fright of her life.

An awful thought came to me. "Supposing the lady is not the English spy,
what an awful thing I have done. Even if she be, what right h