Crime & punishment > Peveril of the Peak > Volume 2

FEVERIL OF THE PEAK. 209
gury with a sive-full of corn; and, while his pal¬
frey profited by his attention, walked into the
fresh air to cool his heated blood, and consider
what course he should pursue in order to reach
the Castle of Martindale before sunset. His ac¬
quaintance with the country infgeneral, gave him
confidence that he could.not have greatly devia¬
ted from the nearest road; and with his hoi’se
in good condition, he conceived he might easily
reach Martindale before night-fall.
Having adjusted his route in his mind, he re¬
turned into the stable to prepare his steed for the
journey, and soon led him into the ruinous court¬
yard of the inn, bridled, saddled, and ready to
be mounted. But as Peveril’s hand was upon the
mane, and his left foot in the stirrup, a hand
touched his cloak, and the voice of Ganlesse said,
“What, Master Pevei’il, is this your foreign
bi'eeding? or have you learned in France to
take French leave of your friends?”
Julian started like a guilty thing, although a
moment’s reflection assured him that he was nei¬
ther wrong nor in danger. “I cared not to dis¬
turb you,” he said, “ although I did come as far
as the door of your chamber, I supposed your
friend and you might require, after our last
night’s revel, rather sleep than ceremony. I left
my own bed, though a rough one, with more re¬
luctance than usual; and as my occasions oblige
me to be an early traveller, I thought it best to
VOL. II. O