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pressing danger。 And it must be said； in the praise of a man who had
fought for and against Marlborough and Tallard； that his courage in this
trying and novel predicament never for a moment deserted him； but that he
showed the greatest daring； as well as ingenuity； in meeting and averting
the danger。 He flew to the sideboard； where were the relics of a supper；
and seizing the mustard and salt pots； and a bottle of oil； he emptied them
all into a jug； into which he further poured a vast quantity of hot water。
This pleasing mixture he then； without a moment's hesitation； placed to his
lips； and swallowed as much of it as nature would allow him。 But when he
had imbibed about a quart； the anticipated effect was produced； and he
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was enabled； by the power of this ingenious extemporaneous emetic； to
get rid of much of the poison which Mrs。 Catherine had administered to
him。
He was employed in these efforts when the doctor entered； along with
Mr。 Brock and Mr。 Trippet； who was not a little pleased to hear that the
poisoned punch had not in all probability been given to him。 He was
recommended to take some of the Count's mixture； as a precautionary
measure； but this he refused； and retired home； leaving the Count under
charge of the physician and his faithful corporal。
It is not necessary to say what further remedies were employed by
them to restore the Captain to health； but after some time the doctor；
pronouncing that the danger was； he hoped； averted； recommended that his
patient should be put to bed； and that somebody should sit by him； which
Brock promised to do。
〃That she…devil will murder me； if you don't；〃 gasped the poor Count。
〃You must turn her out of the bedroom； or break open the door； if she
refuses to let you in。〃
And this step was found to be necessary； for； after shouting many
times； and in vain； Mr。 Brock found a small iron bar （indeed； he had the
instrument for many days in his pocket）； and forced the lock。 The room
was empty； the window was open： the pretty barmaid of the 〃Bugle〃 had
fled。
〃The chest；〃 said the Count〃is the chest safe？〃
The Corporal flew to the bed； under which it was screwed； and looked；
and said； 〃It IS safe； thank Heaven！〃 The window was closed。 The Captain；
who was too weak to stand without help； was undressed and put to bed。
The Corporal sat down by his side； slumber stole over the eyes of the
patient； and his wakeful nurse marked with satisfaction the progress of the
beneficent restorer of health。
When the Captain awoke； as he did some time afterwards； he found；
very much to his surprise； that a gag had been placed in his mouth； and
that the Corporal was in the act of wheeling his bed to another part of the
room。 He attempted to move； and gave utterance to such unintelligible
sounds as could issue through a silk handkerchief。
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〃If your honour stirs or cries out in the least； I will cut your honour's
throat；〃 said the Corporal。
And then； having recourse to his iron bar （the reader will now see why
he was provided with such an implement； for he had been meditating this
coup for some days）； he proceeded first to attempt to burst the lock of the
little iron chest in which the Count kept his treasure； and； failing in this； to
unscrew it from the ground； which operation he performed satisfactorily。
〃You see； Count；〃 said he； calmly； 〃when rogues fall out there's the
deuce to pay。 You'll have me drummed out of the regiment； will you？ I'm
going to leave it of my own accord； look you； and to live like a gentleman
for the rest of my days。 Schlafen Sie wohl； noble Captain： bon repos。 The
Squire will be with you pretty early in the morning； to ask for the money
you owe him。〃
With these sarcastic observations Mr。 Brock departed； not by the
window； as Mrs。 Catherine had done； but by the door； quietly； and so into
the street。 And when； the next morning； the doctor came to visit his patient；
he brought with him a story how； at the dead of night； Mr。 Brock had
roused the ostler at the stables where the Captain's horses were kepthad
told him that Mrs。 Catherine had poisoned the Count； and had run off with
a thousand pounds； and how he and all lovers of justice ought to scour the
country in pursuit of the criminal。 For this end Mr。 Brock mounted the
Count's best horsethat very animal on which he had carried away Mrs。
Catherine： and thus； on a single night； Count Maximilian had lost his
mistress； his money； his horse； his corporal； and was very near losing his
life。
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CHAPTER IV。 IN WHICH MRS。
CATHERINE BECOMES AN
HONEST WOMAN AGAIN。
In this woeful plight； moneyless； wifeless； horseless； corporalless； with
a gag in his mouth and a rope round his body； are we compelled to leave
the gallant Galgenstein； until his friends and the progress of this history
shall deliver him from his durance。 Mr。 Brock's adventures on the
Captain's horse must likewise be pretermitted； for it is our business to
follow Mrs。 Catherine through the window by which she made her escape；
and among the various chances that befell her。
She had one cause to congratulate herself；that she had not her baby at
her back； for the infant was safely housed under the care of a nurse； to
whom the Captain was answerable。 Beyond this her prospects were but
dismal： no home to fly to； but a few shillings in her pocket； and a whole
heap of injuries and dark revengeful thoughts in her bosom： it was a sad
task to her to look either backwards or forwards。 Whither was she to fly？
How to live？ What good chance was to befriend her？ There was an angel
watching over the steps of Mrs。 Catnot a good one； I think； but one of
those from that unnameable place； who have their many subjects here on
earth； and often are pleased to extricate them from worse perplexities。
Mrs。 Cat； now； had not committed murder； but as bad as murder； and
as she felt not the smallest repentance in her heartas she had； in the
course of her life and connection with the Captain； performed and gloried
in a number of wicked coquetries； idlenesses； vanities； lies； fits of anger；
slanders； foul abuses； and what notshe was fairly bound over to this dark
angel whom we have alluded to； and he dealt with her； and aided her； as
one of his own children。
I do not mean to say that； in this strait； he appeared to her in the
likeness of a gentleman in black； and made her sign her name in blood to a
document conveying over to him her soul； in exchange for certain
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conditions to be performed by him。 Such diabolical bargains have always
appeared to me unworthy of the astute personage who is supposed to be
one of the parties to them； and who would scarcely be fool enough to pay
dearly for that which he can have in a few years for nothing。 It is not； then；
to be supposed that a demon of darkness appeared to Mrs。 Cat； and led her
into a flaming chariot harnessed by dragons； and careering through air at
the rate of a thousand leagues a minute。 No such thing； the vehicle that
was sent to aid her was one of a much more vulgar description。
The 〃Liverpool carryvan；〃 then； which in the year 1706 used to
perform the journey between London and that place in ten days； left
Birmingham about an hour after Mrs。 Catherine had quitted that town； and
as she sat weeping on a hillside； and plunged in bitter meditation； the
lumbering； jingling vehicle overtook her。 The coachman was marching by
the side of his horses； and encouraging them to maintain their pace of two
miles an hour； the passengers had some of them left the vehicle； in order
to walk up the hill； and the carriage