“Well, as I say, here was this man standing in the road, pointing his pistol at me. But will ye believe me, me love, when I tell you that that same pistol was as empty as⁠—my own?” Here he was shaken with laughter. “Lud, Molly, ’twas the drollest thing! I had me pistol in me hand, knowing ’twas unloaded, and wondering what the devil, saving your presence, was to do next, when the idea struck me that I should try to bluff me fine sir. So I cried out that his pistol was unloaded, and completely took him by surprise! Sure he hadn’t time to ask himself how the devil I should be knowing that! He dropped it on the road. Afther⁠—”

“Miles, you are becoming very Irish!”

“Never say so, alanna. After that ’twas simple enough, and me lord gave in. He held out his hands for me to bind⁠—and here’s where ’tis puzzling, Molly⁠—I saw that they were a prodigious sight too white and fine for an ordinary highwayman. So I taxed him with it⁠—”

“ ’Twas a gentleman in disguise! How splendid, Miles!”