The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 169
action was over before we arrived, and the count, with his lady,
safe lodged at the house of Grieve, who had signalized himself in
a very remarkable manner on this occasion. At the turning of a
lane, that led to the village where the count’s servants remained,
a couple of robbers a-horseback suddenly appeared, with their
pistols advanced: one kept the coachman in awe, and the other
demanded the count’s money, while the young ’squire went off
at full speed, without ever casting a look behind. The count desir-
ing the thief to withdraw his pistol, as the lady was in great terror,
delivered his purse without making the least resistance; but not
satisfied with this booty, which was pretty considerable, the rascal
insisted upon rifling her of her ear-rings and necklace, and the
countess screamed with affright. Her husband, exasperated at the
violence with which she was threatened, wrested the pistol out of
the fellow’s hand, and turning it upon him, snapped it in his face;
but the robber knowing there was no charge in it, drew another
from his bosom, and in all probability would have killed him on
the spot, had not his life been saved by a wonderful interposition.
Grieve, the apothecary, chancing to pass that very instant, ran up
to the coach, and with a crab-stick, which was all the weapon he had,
brought the fellow to the ground, with the first blow; then seizing
his pistol, presented it to his colleague, who fired his piece at
random, and fled without further opposition. The other was
secured by the assistance of the count and the coachman; and his
legs being tied under the belly of his own horse, Grieve con-
ducted him to the village, whither also the carriage proceeded. It
was with great difficulty the countess could be kept from swoon-
ing; but at last she was happily conveyed to the house of the
apothecary, who went into the shop to prepare some drops for her,
while his wife and daughter administered to her in another apart-
ment.
I found the count standing in the kitchen with the parson of the
parish, and expressing much impatience to see his protector,
whom as yet he had scarce found time to thank for the essential
service he had done him and the countess.—The daughter passing
at the same time with a glass of water, monsieur de Melville could
not help taking notice of her figure, which was strikingly engaging.
—‘Ay, (said the parson) she is the prettiest girl, and the best
girl in all my parish; and if I could give my son an estate of ten thou-
sand a year, he should have my consent to lay it at her feet. If