HIGHWAYMEN 167 



Undoubtedly there were romantic young ladies who 

 would have been prodigiously thrilled if robbed by a 

 fashionably dressed highwayman, but others, like Lady 

 Walpole's friend. Lady Browne, had greater regard for 

 their own property: 



"Lady Browne and I were, as usual, going to the 

 Duchess of Montrose's at seven o'clock. The evening 

 was dark. In the close lane, under the park pale, and 

 within twenty yards of the gate, a black figure pushed 

 by between the chaise and the hedge on my side. I 

 suspefted it was a highwayman, and so, I found, did 

 Browne, for she was speaking, and stopped. To divert 

 her fears I was going to say, 'Is not that the apothecary 

 going to the Duchess ?' when I heard a voice cry 'Stop!' 

 and then the figure came back to the chaise. I had the 

 presence of mind before I let down the glass, to take 

 out my walet and stuff it within my dress under the 

 arm. He said: 



'Your purses and walets?' 



'I have no walet,' I replied. 



'Then your purse.' 



I gave it to him; it had nine guineas in it. It 

 was so dark that I could not see his hand, but I felt 

 him take it. He then asked for Lady Browne's purse, 

 and said, 



'Don't be frightened, I will not hurt you.' 



'No, you won't frighten the lady,' I said. 



'No, I give you my word I will not hurt you,' he 

 replied. 



Lady Browne gave him her purse, and was going to 

 add her walet; but he said, 



'I am much obliged to you; I wish you good-night,' 

 he pulled off his hat, and rode away. 



