Madame Flirt

e talking. Lavinia heard her companion's voice but she did not know what he was saying. Not that it mattered for she w

She would rather that he did not embrace her. She did not want to be noticed. Yet she could not find it in her heart to be unkind, so she allowed him to draw her

in and clatter were heightened by the shouts of drunken roisterers. The overhanging houses cast deep shadows and the coach w

into Fleet Street and so to the Fleet. Had the coachman misunderstood his instructions? She wrenched herself free and looked out of the window. She recognised St. Andrew's Church in Holborn Valley. She

the Fleet, but we're not.

cried gaily. "Aren't you with me? What more do you want? C

aced her but she r

not to be married tell me so, and I'll lea

r than ever? Faith, what d'you take me for? You dear fluttering little

erself; pushed his face away and panting, strove to r

" she cried. "Set me down at

get here. Oh, you shall look if you want

now and again the deep bellowing of cattle, in the distance dogs barking, drivers yelling. She could see horned heads moving up a

own to be tossed and gored by vulgar cattle. Why the sight of

them than with you. I hate you," s

ed. "I'm not going to see you come to harm, so I shall hold your pretty

and I w

ht wrist away and dealt him

you give me you shall be repaid with a dozen kisses. If that isn't returning good for evil may I never handle a d

her hands from him. She at once laid hold of the st

ape," said he mockingl

t it was all part of a plan. She was to be trapped. The story of a Fleet marriage was a concoction to bait t

r strength in struggles, her spirit in remonstrance and be laughed at for her pain

ing Cross and St. Giles. She had often wandered down to London Bridge. She loved the bustling life on the river; she delighted in gazing into the shop windows of the qu

f the Poultry. She recognised the Poultry Compter with its grim entrance and wondered whether the coach wou

companion's, attention again to peep out of the window she saw the coach was at the foot of London

he low taverns in the Southwark Mint. Lavinia had been revolving a plan of escape, but to launch herself among an unruly mob ready for any devilry might be worse than re

the latter than the former-were heard, and Dorrimore after frett

ring you?" he demanded

n the middle of the road and there he sticks. He'll draw neither to the lef

where you are. We mus

e one window-that on the side where she was sitting. If she were on the opposite side how easy to slip her han

of an equal than of a menial. This impression confirmed her suspicion that she was trapped. Dorrimore had doubtless enlis

t it was no easy task to move the gigantic lumbering wain with its tilt as big as a haystack and its wheels a foot thick. Lavinia had her eyes fixed at the

e had struck the window with the heel of her shoe and had thrust her hand through the jagged hole, turned the handle, opened the door and had jump

r haste and agitation she had stumbled on alighting

are you hurt?" s

me. I'm in great danger. I'm running f

're woun

n the man's ruffles. She had cut herself in her

athed. "Oh, if you've a

d it round the cut and holding her arm tightly, forced a wa

Dorrimore's coachman. The fellow uttered a yell and leavin

ne who stops that

eded in passing the waggon there might be a chance of escaping in the darkness. But the onlookers crowding between the obstruction and the shops-the

as both young and good-looking-urged her way through the crowd, and those in front, seeing she looked like a gentlewoman and knowing nothing of the guinea offered f

pered. "Perhaps you haven't any money. Here'

have it," s

st. Qui

hat of

ace the mob and give

uts pursued her; she heard the sound of blows. Somehow no one seemed to notice her. Probably the fighting was more to their taste. Suddenly she found herself alone. The archway called the Traitors' Gate which then formed the entrance to the bridge fro

imore's coachman with the guinea he had offered for her capture had to be thought of. Her danger was by no means over. The roadway was comparatively clea

d with merry parties returning from Spring Gardens, Vauxhall, and no boats were plying for hire. She dared not ascend to the Borough. Bullies and thieves ab

had struck the blow which made him lose his hold of Lavinia's arm, but one of the mob for no motive other than a love for brutality. The coachman had f

ing at least fight fair. Who did that?" and

. Captain Jeremy Rofflash isn't the man to let

gadocio. There were many such who had been with Marlborough and had returned to the

sword; the fist of the man he had thought to frighten had shot out swif

anged themselves on his side. Others came on like infuriated animals on th

spered a friendly voice in the young man's ear. "To Wincheste

tes, had the sense to take it. But it was no easy task to extricate himself. A burly ruffian was approaching him with arm uplifted and whirling a bludgeon. Vane caught the fellow a blow in the waist and he immediat