On his giving his reasons on
oath for believing the young lady to be there, the grounds of his
belief seemed to shrink away, so that the three magistrates held
consultation whether the warrant could be granted. Finally, after
eying him all over, and asking him where he had served, one of
them, who had the air of having been in the army, told him that
in consideration of his being a gentleman of high respectability
who had served his country, they granted what he asked, being assured
that he would not make the accusation lightly. The reforms made by
Fielding had not yet begun, everybody had too much work, and the poor
Major had still some time to wait before an officer--tipstaff, as he
was called--could accompany him, so that it was past noon when, off
in the Bowstead carriage again, they went along the Strand, to a high-
walled court belonging to one of the old houses of the nobility, most
of which had perished in the fire of London. There was a double-
doored gateway, and after much thundering in vain, at which the
tipstaff, a red-nosed old soldier, waxed very irate, the old woman
came out in curtseying, crying, frightened humility, declaring that
they would find no one there--they might look if they would.
So they drove over the paved road, crossing the pitched pebbles, the
door was unbarred, but no Aurelia sprang into her father's arms.
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