But, however, as they
could not suppose they were at liberty, in a civilized country, to take
their revenge on the persons of those who were entitled to the protection
of that country; he should expect, that they would hold themselves to be
personally answerable for their conduct at a proper tribunal.
The villains, one of the men said, knew who they were, and what the
provocation was; which had merited a worse treatment than they had
hitherto met with. You, sir, proceeded he, seem to be a man of honour,
and temper: we are men of honour, as well as you. Our design, as we told
you, was not to kill the miscreants; but to give them reason to remember
their villainy as long as they lived; and to put it out of their power
ever to be guilty of the like. They have made a vile attempt, continued
he, on a lady's honour at Abbeville; and, finding themselves detected,
and in danger, took roundabout ways, and shifted from one vehicle to
another, to escape the vengeance of her friends. The gentleman, whose
horse you held, and who has reason to be in a passion, is the husband of
the lady. [A Spanish husband, surely, Harriet; not a French one,
according to our notions.] That gentleman, and that, are her brothers.
We have been in pursuit of them two days; for they gave out, (in order,
no doubt, to put us on a wrong scent,) that they were to go to Antwerp.
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