Though the tea was hot, it cooled the fellow's ardor, and he sat
down, cursing furiously. Pickering tried to quiet him, saying:--
"A little less noise, please, gentlemen. A duchess and a princess are
dining in the next room."
"A duchess and a princess?" exclaimed one of the men. "We should like to
see the duchess and the princess that would dine here. By God! A duchess
and a princess! Come, gentlemen, let us introduce ourselves."
Accordingly the three of them made a dash for the door of the small
dining room and entered. Immediately a series of screams came from the
princess and the duchess, announcing that the intruders were introducing
themselves. Instantly Hamilton drew his sword and hastened to the rescue.
When he entered the room he saw one of the men embracing Nelly and
another trying to seize Frances. His first attention was given to the man
with Frances. He struck him with the hilt of his sword, stunning him for
the moment, but the fellow soon recovered, and the three ruffians drew
their blades.
Finding himself assailed from all quarters, George made a dash for a
corner of the room, where his back and flank were protected. In telling
me of it afterward, Frances said that she and Nelly were so badly
frightened that they could neither move nor scream. The deafening noise
of the clashing swords, the tramping of the heavy boots on the bare oak
floor, the blasphemous oaths of the drunken ruffians, and the stunning
din of battle almost deprived her of consciousness.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119