Time was short.

At any moment that other masquerading priest, whose name I guessed shrewdly enough now, might be here on the top of us.

So I had at him and ran him through the carcase, and without waiting to look twice to see if he lived or no, or to restore his fainting victim, I lifted her on to the horse in front of me, and dashed, in the gathering night, through the forest roads.
Two days later, as the snow fell thick in the London streets, I stood with the maiden at my master's door without Temple Bar.

There were crowds in the Strand, I remember, talking over some notable news which had just come in; and so full was every one of the same, that we passed unheeded, and not a man had time to recognise me or wonder who was my companion.

Even my master and mistress were abroad gossiping; so that, to my vast relief, when I opened the door and walked in, there was Jeannette to meet us and no one else.
"Thee art welcome, dear Humphrey," said she, coming forward; "and so is this lady." And she dropped a curtsey as she turned to my companion.