‘I am not, having just dined off the most excellent beef. But I came in time. I took nothing that was not my due.’

‘You are interfering in what does not concern you.’

‘On the contrary, I am deeply concerned and I will not stand by and see these good people deprived of what is theirs by right.’

You will not, eh?’

Lance drew his sword and stood there smiling. I was terrified for him. There were three of them against one. But I was proud of him, all the same.

‘Damme,’ said one of the men, ‘if it is not Clavering.’

‘Ah,’ retorted Lance, ‘so it is you, Timperly. I am surprised to see you in such company.’

‘Come, Clavering, what is it to you? These are a mob of coach people.’

‘They deserve their rights whether they travel by stage or private carriage. I say they shall have their dinner, and you would eat very well I am sure—for the Plump Partridge is an excellent inn—on hot bread and fine cheese. The port is good, too. You’ll enjoy it, Timperly.’

‘Look here, Clavering,’ said the first man. ‘What is it to you? Why bother yourself with this?’

‘No matter,’ replied Lance. ‘Just let it stand that I do. I’ll challenge any one of you to single combat. Let’s fight it out.’

‘Taken,’ said the first man.

‘Careful,’ added Timperly. ‘You know Clavering’s reputation with a sword.’

‘Afraid?’ asked Lance. ‘Come on. Which one of you? We’ll fight it out for hot beef with dumplings against bread and cheese.’

‘I’ll take you on,’ was the answer. It was the first man who had drawn his sword.

‘Gentlemen,’ cried Lance, ‘we can’t let this take place without a gamble. What’ll you offer? Twenty pounds between you for me if I win. And if I don’t… but damme! I’m so certain of victory that I’ll make it twenty apiece if he pricks me first.’

‘And the matter is settled at the first prick?’ said Timperly, brightening considerably.

‘So be it,’ said Lance.

‘When do we start?’

‘Here and now.’

The host and hostess were standing by in dismay, and several of the coach passengers looked on in amazement. They whispered together about the cause of the fight, and they were eyeing Lance with something like adoration. I felt proud of him and at the same time afraid; but I knew in my heart that he was going to win. I could not imagine anything else, and as their swords clashed I was caught up in the excitement. I was praying for Lance’s success.

‘Lance… go on. Win, Lance,’ I whispered. The coach passengers were vociferous. They shouted and called, while the host stood by clasping and unclasping his hands.

In a few tense moments it was over. Lance had won. He had pricked his opponent and blood was spurting on to the man’s elegant cuff. Lance gave a cry of triumph as he held up his sword and stood there for a second or so looking like a medieval knight who had fought the good fight and overcome evil.

‘Twenty pounds for me and hot dinners for the coach,’ he cried. ‘A most satisfactory encounter.’

The three men were rueful but accepted their fate. The money changed hands and they went into the inn parlour while the stagecoach people trooped into the dining-room chattering about the adventures they met with travelling by coach.

Lance laid his hand on my arm and said: ‘It is time we retired. We have to be up early in the morning.’

He slipped his arm lightly through mine and we ascended the stairs. When we reached my room he said: ‘What do you think of our little fracas?’

‘I was proud of you,’ I said.

‘Oh, bless you for that.’

‘But I was sorry about the money. That spoilt it somehow.’

‘That made it worthwhile for me as well as for the coach passengers.’

‘It was a pity. Up to that time it seemed such a noble thing to defend the coach people. Then it seemed as though you had done it for a gamble.’

‘I never miss an opportunity to gamble.’

‘I know. But it would have been so much better without.’

He took my chin in his hands and looked into my face. ‘The trouble with you, Clarissa, is that you always look for perfection,’ he said. ‘Don’t. You’re never going to find it, you know.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because it doesn’t exist in this world.’

I thought of Dickon then. Hadn’t that been perfection? Yes, until we had to part. Perhaps Lance was right. There was no perfection in life. One had to be prepared for that. Not look for it. Not hope for it. Just accept what there was to take.

Lance smiled at me thoughtfully. Then he bent forward and kissed me lightly.

‘Sleep well, my dear,’ he said. ‘And rise early. We must be on our way at dawn.’

THE VERDICT

WE WERE RIDING OFF when the first streaks of light were in the sky. It was not really so early, for the days were short at this time of year. Lance said that at least we should be home in time for Christmas and he was sure my family would be pleased at that.

We did not see any more of Timperly and his friends. Some of the coach people had been there though when we left for they had to leave very early.

One of them said to me of Lance: ‘You have a very fine gentleman there.’

I glowed with pride and agreed with her.

Then we were off. Lance seemed to have forgotten the incident. Perhaps such were commonplace in the exciting life which he led. He sang as we went and again and again urged me to join in. I did and I could not help feeling my spirits rising. Such was the effect his company had on me.

In due course we came to the Hoop and Grapes which was another inn where Lance knew we should be well looked after. I commented on the fact that he was knowledgeable on the subject of inns.

‘Seasoned traveller,’ he replied.

We went in and had an excellent meal and once more became involved with the company, this time in a friendly fashion.

Two men were travelling with their wives and it was obvious from everything about them that they were of the gentry. We chatted amicably with them and discovered that they were on their way to their home in London. They knew Lance by repute and were clearly pleased to be in his company.

We had dined together and during the conversation it transpired that Lance and the gentlemen had several mutual acquaintances.

‘I remember old Cherrington,’ said one of them. ‘Lost twenty thousand one night at that place… what was it called… The Cocoanut Tree?’

‘Fortunes were won and lost there,’ said Lance, his eyes sparkling. ‘At one time it was the most frequented gambling den in London.’

‘I say,’ said one of the men, ‘what about a little flutter now?’

‘Nothing would suit me better,’ cried Lance.

My heart sank. I had hoped that we might sit and talk, for I found great comfort in his company. But I could see the gambling fever was on him, and how excited he was at the prospect of indulging it.

As soon as the meal was over they were impatient to begin. He turned to me and said that he thought I needed an early night as we must be off at the crack of dawn if we were to reach London the next day.

I felt I was dismissed, and holding my head rather high to feign indifference, I said good night to the company and left them.

Although I was thinking of Dickon and wondering what had become of him, I felt hurt that Lance should prefer the company of these strangers to mine. Why must he always seize every opportunity to risk his money? Moreover, he had left me alone. He had explained to our fellow travellers that I was the niece of General Eversleigh and that he had been commissioned to take me to London—which, he hastened to add, was one of the most pleasurable duties which had ever been assigned to him.

I was unmoved by such blandishments and angry that he should have dismissed me so cursorily, merely so that he could enjoy a gambling game with his new-found friends.

I undressed and went to bed, but could not sleep. I kept going over the days I had spent with Dickon, remembering everything he had said and the wonder of discovering the love between us. I likened it to the rising of the sun: first a few streaks of light in the sky and then the sudden emergence and the bursting forth in glory to touch all life with some mystical magic.

The more angry I grew with Lance the more poetic I became about my relationship with Dickon; but I was surprised that even in the midst of my anxieties I should still feel such deep resentment towards Lance.

‘He is an inveterate gambler,’ I told myself, it is a great flaw in his character. Oh, he was noble enough when he stood up for the coach people, but I think he did it because it was a gamble to him.’

The night was passing and I had not heard him come upstairs. I went to my door and looked out. All was quiet. I tiptoed along the corridor to his room and opened the door very cautiously. He had not come up, for the room was empty and his bed undisturbed. So he was still down there, gambling with those people. My watch told me it was two o’clock. I returned to my bed and lay there wondering how much he was losing… or winning.

It was past three o’clock when I heard him come upstairs—quietly tiptoeing. I leaped out of bed and, opening my door, confronted him.

‘Clarissa!’ he cried.

‘Do you realize what time it is?’

He laughed. ‘Past three?’

‘All this time you have been down there… gambling.’

He came towards me. ‘Couldn’t you sleep?’ he asked.

‘How could I? I was worried.’

‘About me?’

‘I was thinking of Dickon.’

‘Ah, yes. Well, it was foolish of you. You should have been fast asleep. Do you realize that in a few hours we have to be on our way?’

‘Did you realize that?’

‘I can do with very little sleep.’

‘Did you… win?’

He looked at me ruefully and shook his head. ‘It was good play, though.’

‘So you lost!’

‘The hazard of the game, you know.’

‘How… how much?’

‘Not a great deal.’

‘How much?’ I repeated.

He laughed. ‘You look so severe. Well, fifty pounds.’

‘Fifty pounds!’

‘It was a long session.’

‘I think it is foolish. Good night.’

‘Clarissa.’ He took a step towards me and laid his hands on my shoulders. ‘Thanks for your concern,’ he said. Then he drew me towards him and kissed me.

I drew back in some confusion.

‘Good night,’ he said quietly. ‘Go to sleep now. Remember we leave early.’

Then he went to his room and I went back to mine. He had disturbed me. He had really startled me when he kissed me. I had been very much aware of my scanty apparel, and perhaps my feelings were somehow involved with what I felt for Dickon.

I told myself I was annoyed with Lance and that it was not very gallant of him to have sent me off to bed as though I were a child.

I sank back into my bed. I was cold and still found it hard to sleep, but finally I did so and almost immediately, it seemed, I was awakened by a knocking on my door informing me that it was time to get up.

We left early as planned. Lance seemed none the worse for what must have been a very short night for him. He was as merry as ever and prepared to entertain me with stories of his adventures as we rode along.

I could not stop myself referring to the previous night and again expressing my disapproval of his losing so much money.

‘You won twenty the night before,’ I pointed out, ‘and then lost it… and more besides.’

‘That’s how it is with the gambler,’ he said. ‘He is spurred on by his winnings only to lose much more with them.’

‘Then surely it is a foolish habit.’

‘Indeed you are right. But as you go through life you will discover that so many things which are foolish are also irresistible. That’s the tragedy of it.’

‘I should have thought a little strength of mind…’

‘You are absolutely right… only it is not a little that is needed in this case, but a great deal.’

‘I was so pleased that you won twenty and in such a noble way.’

‘It is no use brooding on these matters, dear Clarissa. That which was won at the Plump Partridge has now found its way into another’s pocket, and the coach people have long forgotten their good dinner.’

‘I think they will remember you for a long time. They will talk of it to their children in the years to come.’

‘It will be like a candle in a dark world. Candles gutter, Clarissa, and soon go out. What a dismal conversation! Soon we shall be in London. There we shall spend one night at my residence and the next day set out for Enderby. Your adventure is nearly over. Thank you for letting me share in it.’