A. T. Quiller-Couch

“ The passage led to a second door that open'd on a wide, stone-pav'd kitchen, lit by a cheerful fire, whereon a kettle hissed and bubbled as the vapour lifted the cover. Close by the chimney corner was a sort of trap, or buttery hatch, for pushing the hot dishes conveniently into the parlour on the other side of the wall. Besides this, for furniture, the room held a broad deal table, an oak dresser, a linen-press, a rack with hams and strings of onions depending from it, a settle and a chair or two, with (for decoration) a dozen or so of ballad-sheets stuck among the dish covers along the wall. ”

“ She broke off, as I started: for below I heard the main door open, and Captain Settle's voice in the passage. The arch villain had return'd.
“Mistress Delia,” I said hurriedly, “the twelfth man has enter'd the house, and unless we consider our plans at once, all's up with us.”
“Tush!” said the old gentleman in the chair, who (it seems) had heard all, and now sat up brisk as ever. “I, for my part shall mix another glass, and leave it all to Jacques. Come, sit by me, sir, and you shall see some pretty play. Why, Jacques is the neatest rogue with a small sword in all France!” ”

“ Men are fools that wish to die!
Is't not fine to laugh and sing
When the hells of death do ring—”
There was no doubt upon it. The voice belonged to the young gentlewoman I had met at Hungerford. I turned sharply toward the landlord, and was met by another surprise. The second man, that till now had stood well back in the shadow, was peering forward, and devouring Molly with his gaze. ”