The Escape of the Notorious Sir William Heans by William Gosse Hay

It was dark when Oughtryn and Sir William Heans rode into the yard, the former taking both horses and bidding Sir William in: a service which he accepted without a word, moving slowly across but not using his cane. In the kitchen candles his fine eyes looked for once sightless and vague.

The soldier was in the stable, and emerged into the door, as Oughtryn led in the beasts. Sir William did not look back, though the yard skellocked to the sudden battery of talk, the brazen confident rattle, almost done, you might have said, and yet laughed at yourself for saying so, with a purpose. The sharp fellow seemed to note Sir William's dejection, for he distinctly gabbled at his back: "A down peg, on my oath!" At the moment Heans thought it singular the man should exercise his resentment when he saw he was discomposed.