over his eye； before he went forth to make appearance in
public。 Such is the force of habit； that even in the midst
of his terror he began mechanically to twiddle with his
hair； and arrange the cock of his hat。 Then he looked
amazed at the pale face in the glass before him； and
especially at his mustachios； which had attained a rich
growth in the course of near seven weeks； since they had
come into the world。 They WILL mistake me for a military
man； thought he； remembering Isidor's warning as
to the massacre with which all the defeated British army
was threatened； and staggering back to his bedchamber；
he began wildly pulling the bell which summoned his
valet。
Isidor answered that summons。 Jos had sunk in a chair
he had torn off his neckcloths； and turned down his
collars； and was sitting with both his hands lifted to his
throat。
〃Coupez…moi； Isidor；〃 shouted he； 〃vite！ Coupez…moi！〃
Isidor thought for a moment he had gone mad； and
that he wished his valet to cut his throat。
〃Les moustaches；〃 gasped Joe； 〃les moustaches
coupy； rasy； vite！〃his French was of this sortvoluble；
as we have said； but not remarkable for grammar。
Isidor swept off the mustachios in no time with the
razor； and heard with inexpressible delight his master's
orders that he should fetch a hat and a plain coat。 〃Ne
porty ploohabit militairbonnbonny a voo； prenny
dehors〃were Jos's wordsthe coat and cap were at
last his property。
This gift being made； Jos selected a plain black coat
and waistcoat from his stock； and put on a large white
neckcloth； and a plain beaver。 If he could have got a
shovel hat he would have worn it。 As it was； you would
have fancied he was a flourishing； large parson of the
Church of England。
〃Venny maintenong；〃 he continued； 〃sweevyally
partydong la roo。〃 And so having said； he plunged
swiftly down the stairs of the house； and passed into the
street。
Although Regulus had vowed that he was the only
man of his regiment or of the allied army； almost； who
had escaped being cut to pieces by Ney； it appeared
that his statement was incorrect； and that a good number
more of the supposed victims had survived the massacre。
Many scores of Regulus's comrades had found their way
back to Brussels； and all agreeing that they had run
awayfilled the whole town with an idea of the defeat
of the allies。 The arrival of the French was expected
hourly； the panic continued； and preparations for flight
went on everywhere。 No horses！ thought Jos； in terror。
He made Isidor inquire of scores of persons； whether
they had any to lend or sell； and his heart sank within
him； at the negative answers returned everywhere。 Should
he take the journey on foot？ Even fear could not render
that ponderous body so active。
Almost all the hotels occupied by the English in Brussels
face the Parc； and Jos wandered irresolutely about
in this quarter； with crowds of other people； oppressed as
he was by fear and curiosity。 Some families he saw more
happy than himself； having discovered a team of horses；
and rattling through the streets in retreat； others again
there were whose case was like his own； and who
could not for any bribes or entreaties procure the
necessary means of flight。 Amongst these would…be fugitives；
Jos remarked the Lady Bareacres and her daughter； who
sate in their carriage in the porte…cochere of their hotel；
all their imperials packed； and the only drawback to
whose flight was the same want of motive power which
kept Jos stationary。
Rebecca Crawley occupied apartments in this hotel；
and had before this period had sundry hostile meetings
with the ladies of the Bareacres family。 My Lady
Bareacres cut Mrs。 Crawley on the stairs when they met
by chance； and in all places where the latter's name was
mentioned； spoke perseveringly ill of her neighbour。 The
Countess was shocked at the familiarity of General Tufto
with the aide…de…camp's wife。 The Lady Blanche avoided
her as if she had been an infectious disease。 Only the
Earl himself kept up a sly occasional acquaintance with
her； when out of the jurisdiction of his ladies。
Rebecca had her revenge now upon these insolent
enemies。 If became known in the hotel that Captain
Crawley's horses had been left behind； and when the
panic began； Lady Bareacres condescended to send her
maid to the Captain's wife with her Ladyship's compliments；
and a desire to know the price of Mrs。 Crawley's
horses。 Mrs。 Crawley returned a note with her compliments；
and an intimation that it was not her custom to
transact bargains with ladies' maids。
This curt reply brought the Earl in person to Becky's
apartment； but he could get no more success than the
first ambassador。 〃Send a lady's maid to ME！〃 Mrs。
Crawley cried in great anger； 〃why didn't my Lady
Bareacres tell me to go and saddle the horses！ Is it her
Ladyship that wants to escape； or her Ladyship's femme
de chambre？〃 And this was all the answer that the Earl
bore back to his Countess。
What will not necessity do？ The Countess herself
actually came to wait upon Mrs。 Crawley on the failure
of her second envoy。 She entreated her to name her own
price； she even offered to invite Becky to Bareacres
House； if the latter would but give her the means of
returning to that residence。 Mrs。 Crawley sneered at her。
〃I don't want to be waited on by bailiffs in livery；〃 she
said； 〃you will never get back though most probably
at least not you and your diamonds together。 The French
will have those They will be here in two hours； and I
shall be half way to Ghent by that time。 I would not sell
you my horses； no； not for the two largest diamonds that
your Ladyship wore at the ball。〃 Lady Bareacres trembled
with rage and terror。 The diamonds were sewed into her
habit； and secreted in my Lord's padding and boots。
〃Woman； the diamonds are at the banker's； and I WILL
have the horses；〃 she said。 Rebecca laughed in her face。
The infuriate Countess went below； and sate in her
carriage； her maid； her courier； and her husband were sent
once more through the town； each to look for cattle； and
woe betide those who came last！ Her Ladyship was
resolved on departing the very instant the horses arrived
from any quarterwith her husband or without him。
Rebecca had the pleasure of seeing her Ladyship in
the horseless carriage； and keeping her eyes fixed upon
her； and bewailing； in the loudest tone of voice； the
Countess's perplexities。 〃Not to be able to get horses！〃
she said； 〃and to have all those diamonds sewed into the
carriage cushions！ What a prize it will be for the French
when they come！the carriage and the diamonds； I mean；
not the lady！〃 She gave this information to the landlord；
to the servants； to the guests； and the innumerable
stragglers about the courtyard。 Lady Bareacres could have
shot her from the carriage window。
It was while enjoying the humiliation of her enemy that
Rebecca caught sight of Jos； who made towards her
directly he perceived her。
That altered； frightened； fat face； told his secret well
enough。 He too wanted to fly； and was on the look…out
for the means of escape。 〃HE shall buy my horses；〃
thought Rebecca； 〃and I'll ride the mare。〃
Jos walked up to his friend； and put the question for
the hundredth time during the past hour； 〃Did she know
where horses were to be had？〃
〃What； YOU fly？〃 said Rebecca； with a laugh。 〃I
thought you were the champion of all the ladies； Mr。
Sedley。〃
〃II'm not a military man；〃 gasped he。
〃And Amelia？Who is to protect that poor little sister
of yours？〃 asked Rebecca。 〃You surely would not desert
her？〃
〃What good can I do her； supposesuppose the enemy
arrive？〃 Jos answered。 〃They'll spare the women； but my
man tells me that they have taken an oath to give no
quarter to the menthe dastardly cowards。〃
〃Horrid！〃 cried Rebecca； enjoying his perplexity。
〃Besides； I don't want to desert her；〃 cried the brother。
〃She SHAN'T be deserted。 There is a seat for her in my
carriage； and one for you； dear Mrs。 Crawley； if you will
come； and if we can get horses〃 sighed he
〃I have two to sell；〃 the lady said。 Jos could have
flung himself into her arms at the news。 〃Get the carriage；
Isidor；〃 he cried； 〃we've found themwe have found
them。〃
My horses never were in harness；〃 added the lady。
〃Bullfinch would kick the carriage to pieces； if you put
him in the traces。〃
〃But he is quiet to ride？〃 asked the civilian。
〃As quiet as a lamb； and as fast as a hare；〃 answered
Rebecca。
〃Do you think he is up to my weight？〃 Jos said。 He
was already on his back； in imagination； without ever so
much as a thought for poor Amelia。 What person who
loved a horse…speculation could resist such a temptation？
In reply； Rebecca asked him to come into her room；
whither he followed her quite breathless to conclude the
bargain。 Jos seldom spent a half…hour in his life which
cost him so much money。 Rebecca； measuring the value
of the goods which she had for sale by Jos's eagerness to
purchase； as well as by the scarcity of the article； put
upon her horses a price so prodigious as to make even
the civilian draw back。 〃She would sell both or neither；〃
she said； resolutely。 Rawdon had ordered her not to part
with them for a price less than that which she specified。
Lord Bareacres below would give her the same money
and with all her love and regard for the Sedley family；
her dear Mr。 Joseph must conceive that poor people must
livenobody； in a word； could be more affectionate； but
more firm about the matter of business。
Jos ended by agreeing； as might be supposed of him。
The sum he had to give her was so large that he was
obliged to ask for time； so large as to be a little fortune
to Rebecca； who rapidly calculated that with this sum；
and the sale of the residue of Rawdon's effects； and her
pension as a widow should he fall； she would now be
absolutely independent of the world； and might look her
weeds steadily in the face。
Once or twice in the day she certainly had herself
thought about flying。 But her reason gave her better
counsel。 〃Suppose the French do come；〃 thought Becky；
〃what can they do to a poor officer's widow？ Bah！ the
times of sacks and sieges are over。 We shall be let to go