Baffled by her prudence and penetration, he altered his plan.
On pretence of being called to his country house by some affair
of importance, he departed from London, and, taking lodgings at a
farmer's house that stood near the road through which she must have
necessarily passed in her return to her mother, concealed himself
from all intercourse, except with his valet-de-chambre and Pipes,
who had orders to scour the country, and reconnoitre every horse,
coach, or carriage, that should appear on that highway, with a view
of intercepting his Emilia in her passage.
He had waited in this ambuscade a whole week, when his valet gave
him notice, that he and his fellow-scout had discovered a chaise-and-six,
driving at full speed towards them; upon which they had flapped
their hats over their eyes, so as they might not be known, in case
they should be seen, and concealed themselves behind a hedge, from
whence they could perceive in the carriage, as it passed, a young
man plainly dressed, with a lady in a mask, of the exact size,
shape, and air of Emilia; and that Pipes followed them at a distance,
while he rode back to communicate this piece of intelligence.
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