about six o’clock at night
I remained in this fright nearly two hours , and scarce ever kept my eye from the window or door of the inn where they were . At last , hearing a great clatter in the passage of their inn , I ran to the window , and , to my great satisfaction , saw them all three go out again and travel on westward . Had they gone towards London , I should have been still in a fright , lest I should meet him on the road again , and that he should know me ; but he went the contrary way , and so I was eased of that disorder . We resolved to be going the next day , but about six o'clock at night we were alarmed with a great uproar in the street , and people riding as if they had been out of their wits ; and what was it but a hue-and-cry after three highwaymen that had robbed two coaches and some other travellers near Dunstable Hill , and notice had , it seems , been given that they had been seen at Brickhill at such a house , meaning the house where those gentlemen had been . The house was immediately beset and searched , but there were witnesses enough that the gentlemen had been gone over three hours . The crowd having gathered about , we had the news presently ; and I was heartily concerned now another way . I presently told the people of the house , that I durst to say those were not the persons , for that I knew one of the gentlemen to be a very honest person , and of a good estate in Lancashire .