\"SirJohnChobham，themanwhoisopposingme，\"answeredRobert；
\"thatishishouseawaythereamongthetreesontheright。\"
Sotherewasanuprightman，possiblyaveryHugoincharacter，whowasthwartinganddefyingtheevildoerinhisnefariouscareer，andtherewasadastardlyplotafoottobreakhisneck！Possiblytheattemptwouldbemadewithinthenextfewhours。Hemustcertainlybewarned。AlethiarememberedhowLadySylviaBroomgate，inNightshadeCourt，hadpretendedtobeboltedwithbyherhorseuptothefrontdoorofathreatenedcountymagnate，andhadwhisperedawarninginhisearwhichsavedhimfrombeingthevictimoffoulmurder。Shewonderediftherewasaquietponyinthestablesonwhichshewouldbeallowedtorideoutalone。Thechanceswerethatshewouldbewatched。RobertwouldcomespurringafterherandseizeherbridlejustasshewasturninginatSirJohn\'sgates。
Agroupofmenthattheypassedinavillagestreetgavethemnoveryfriendlylooks，andAlethiathoughtsheheardafurtivehiss；amomentlatertheycameuponanerrandboyridingabicycle。Hehadthefrankopencountenance，neatlybrushedhairandtidyclothesthatbetokenaclearconscienceandagoodmother。Hestaredstraightattheoccupantsofthecar，and，afterhehadpassedthem，sanginhisclear，boyishvoice：
\"We\'llhangBobbyBludwardonthesourappletree。\"