\"Yehavesaidyeshouldcontinueuponthisroad,whichisourdirectionlikewise;whereforemylord,theearlGrip,hathgivencommandmentthatyeretainthehorsesandride,andthatcertainofusridewithyeatwentymiletoafairtownthathightCambenet,whensoyeshallbeoutofperil.\"
Wecoulddonothinglessthanexpressourthanksandaccepttheoffer.
Wejoggedalong,sixintheparty,atamoderateandcomfortablegait,andinconversationlearnedthatmylordGripwasaverygreatpersonageinhisownregion,whichlayaday\'sjourneybeyondCambenet.Weloiteredtosuchadegreethatitwasnearthemiddleoftheforenoonwhenweenteredthemarketsquareofthetown.Wedismounted,andleftourthanksoncemoreformylord,andthenapproachedacrowdassembledinthecenterofthesquare,toseewhatmightbetheobjectofinterest.Itwastheremnantofthatoldperegrinatingbandofslaves!Sotheyhadbeendraggingtheirchainsabout,allthiswearytime.Thatpoorhusbandwasgone,andalsomanyothers;andsomefewpurchaseshadbeenaddedtothegang.Thekingwasnotinterested,andwantedtomovealong,butIwasabsorbed,andfullofpity.Icouldnottakemyeyesawayfromthesewornandwastedwrecksofhumanity.Theretheysat,groundedupontheground,silent,uncomplaining,withbowedheads,apatheticsight.Andbyhideouscontrast,aredundantoratorwasmakingaspeechtoanothergatheringnotthirtystepsaway,infulsomelaudationof\"ourgloriousBritishliberties!\"
Iwasboiling.IhadforgottenIwasaplebeian,IwasrememberingI
wasaman.Costwhatitmight,Iwouldmountthatrostrumand——