The-Scarlet-Pimpernel

CHAPTER XVIRICHMONDAfew minutes later she was sitting, wrapped in cozy furs,near Sir Percy Blakeney on the box-seat of his magnificentcoach, and the four splendid bays had thundered downthe quiet street.The night was warm in spite of the gentle breeze whichfanned Marguerite’s burning cheeks. Soon London houseswere left behind, and rattling over old HammersmithBridge, Sir Percy was driving his bays rapidly towards Richmond.The river wound in and out in its pretty delicate curves,looking like a silver serpent beneath the glittering rays ofthe moon. Long shadows from overhanging trees spreadoccasional deep palls right across the road. The bays wererushing along at breakneck speed, held but slightly back bySir Percy’s strong, unerring hands.These nightly drives after balls and suppers in Londonwere a source of perpetual delight to Marguerite, and sheappreciated her husband’s eccentricity keenly, which causedhim to adopt this mode of taking her home every night,to their beautiful home by the river, instead of living in aFree eBooks at Planet eBook.com163