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William Pitt Palmer: Filman

Master Filman, the inn-keeper, gave a little sniff as he left the room to see after these simple wants. He hoped to have made something out of this stranger before he left his roof again; and now he had ordered just the plainest food; yet he was certainly rich.

What a splendid chain that was! and had he not a diamond ring on his finger? a peg behind the door. With one glance to see how far the stranger had gone down the lane, he snatched up his fur cap and a stout stick and went after him, following him stealthily as he rode slowly on. His plan was to overtake the traveller in a lonely wood, which he could reach by a short-cut across the fields, and then to have a tussle with him for his gold.

The traveller rode on, with his mind full of pleasant thoughts of the home where his dear ones would be so glad to see him; and he whistled softly to cheer his weary nag, and give vent to his own spirits.

In this way he entered the lonely wood, through which the road ran; the moonlight lay in uncertain patches on the ground, and the wind moaned mournfully among the branches. But the rider had no fear, and he spoke to his horse with kindly words, as a man talks to his friend.