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This chicken-hearted couple, by the light of
a rush candle that burned on the hearth, seeing a stranger burst
into the chamber, in such a terrible attitude, were seized with
consternation; and, exalting their voices, in a most lamentable
strain, begged, for the passion of Christ, that he would spare
their lives, and take all they had.
Peregrine guessing, from this exclamation, and the circumstance
of their being abed, that they mistook him for a robber, and were
ignorant of that which he wanted to know, dispelled their terror,
by making them acquainted with the cause of his visit, and desired
the husband to get up with all possible despatch, in order to assist
and attend him in his search.
Thus reinforced, he rummaged every corner of the inn, and at last,
finding the hostler in the stable, was by him informed, to his
unspeakable mortification, that the gentleman and lady who arrived
in the chaise, had immediately hired post-horses for a certain
village at the distance of fifteen miles, and departed without
halting for the least refreshment.


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