Tom King a drinking companion of Lord Coventry details to his companion a plan he had laid for robbing that nobleman, but which was hardly feasible without a bold and skillful confederate.
When he had explained his views, Turpin readily closed with them.
"I like it much,"replied he, "here is my hand on it; and for my part of the business, fortune favouring, consider it a done.
Leave it all to me - only detain our bird a few minutes at the Star, and if I don't pluck him to the pin feathers, call me a bungler, that's all."
Matters were soon arranged and King rode forward to the Inn at which the young nobleman was expected. He soon after arrived.
Wine was liberally ordered and a merry hour and a half was passed, while Turpin spent the interval in making necessary arrangements for the success of their exploit as follows:
He called on the blacksmith at the corner of Draycott Lane, Kempsey, throwing him a guinea and demanded an axe. He then proceeded to fell a tree from the avenue of the Temple's Nash, Kempsey, some three miles from Croome, and put it across the road.
The attendants of the nobleman consisted of his valet and a postilion. They were now entering a narrow lane where long rows of lofty over-arching elms threw dense shadows on the roadway. They had advanced some fifty yards, when the horse on which the boy rode suddenly shied and reared at some obstacle on the ground.
The boy rolled from the saddle, the valet leaped from the rumble, and opening the carriage door inquired if his lordship was hurt. His lordship was just enjoying a doze to which the sultriness of the evening and the fumes of the wine had disposed him, when he was awoke by the sudden stoppage.
"What the devil's the matter now, Stevens? "S'blood a horse down, eh? Help the lad to get him up, then, and be d-d to you. Shut the door fellow; I'm drowsy."
A minute after Stevens again opened the door.
"My lord," said he almost in a whisper, "we can't get on; there's one of the horses disabled by his fall. One would think that t'was done by design, for there's a small tree across the road, and the bark so peeled off it that the best eyes couldn't see it, even in the moonlight. Shall I go back to the Star, my lord, or -"

"Sblood, but the road surveyors hereabout shall hear of this - the d-d scoundrels! That extortionafte numscull, too, the host of the Star, to send a nobleman forward with such floundered catsmeat."
His lordship, having by this time sworn himself awake, looked out at the front window of the vehicle with a languid yawn.
Stevens and the boy mounted the uninjured horse and rode back to the Star. He had scarcely cleared the lane, when a man stepped from behind a tree at the roadside.
"Down on your knees, or I fire!" said he, in a gruff undertone to the valet, at the same time presenting a pistol to his ear.
"And now, if you please, we'll discuss business matters. I must trouble you for your loose cash, my lord - (a purse was handed to him) and now, if you please, I'll take your watch; it's a handsome one I know - (his lordship drew it it slowly from his fob): that diamond ring on your finger too; and I'll also thank you for the miniature you carry about you of a lovely lady, of whom, my lord, we'll say nothing - but that I know you have it."
"Padzooks, Mr Highwayman," said he. "The picture I'll not part with, demme - (his lordship grew warm) - and if you're the blood I take you to be you'll not insist on it. Name the terms and I'll redeem my pledged word like a man of honour and a gentleman - demme!"
"Why really," replied Dick, I've wasted too much time already. I forgive you the attempt you made to provide for me in the order world; and as I've reason to believe your lordship really has an affection for this picture, and I've not wish to disfigure it by breaking it's frame. Say thirty guineas. You assent? Then an order for thirty guineas on your agent Moreland will do: and I'll ensure it's presentation before your lordship can trouble him with any advice on the subject."
Lord Coventry drew forth his pocket book, and extracting a leaf, wrote the required order.
Turpin looked narrowly at it, folded it, and bowing lowly, with an air of mock reverence to his lordship closed the coach door. A low whistle was heard, and he disappeared through the hedge by the way he had come out.
Turpin meantime presented the order with all speed at Mr Moreland's Church House, Severn Stoke (Lord Coventry's agent) and it was duly honoured. The next night he met his friend Tom King off the London Coach at the lovely village of Broadway, to square up the plunder. Incidentally the miniature was of Mary Thornton.