The High Toby: Being further chapters in the life and fortunes of Dick Ryder, otherwise Galloping Dick, sometime gentleman of the road

"The High Toby" by H. B. Marriott Watson is a novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story focuses on the character Dick Ryder, also known as Galloping Dick, who is depicted as a gentleman of the road navigating a life of adventure and intrigue. Set against a backdrop that intertwines romance with the perils of highway robbery, the narrative looks at the escapades and fortunes of its protagonist. At the start of the book, the reader is introduced to Dick Ryder, a notorious highwayman, as he recounts a past incident involving a robbery that leads to unexpected circumstances. Ryder describes a fateful encounter with a coach carrying passengers, which introduces him to a suave gentleman, Sir Gilbert Avory, and a young woman named Mrs. Barbara Crawford. Throughout this portion, Ryder's wit and bravado shine as he contemplates the moral intricacies of his undertakings while being drawn into a plot of pursuit and kidnapping. The scene sets the tone for a story filled with adventures, deception, and the complexities of human interaction in a whimsical yet dangerous world.