"The inns of this
town be full, sayest thou? Why, all the inns in London be not full, I
warrant thee. And why should they be full here in this bit of a town,
with one street running this way, and one another way, like a cross? I
would have thee to know that I have been servant to the king, and am
used to be served accordingly."
"And what service hast thou done the king?" demanded the surly
innkeeper, unbelievingly.
"I did watch from the top of the high tree the De Aldithely castle,"
was the boastingly given answer. "I did see the young lord and his
serving-man flee through the postern and enter the wood." He was about
to rehearse all the particulars of his pursuit of the runaways when the
innkeeper interrupted him.
"Thou must, then," said he, "be the spy for whom the king is looking,
and I will give thee to him."
"Nay, nay," said Walter Skinner, his fierceness all gone as he suddenly
remembered the warning given him in Newark by the courtier who had set
him free. "That thou mayest not do. I do journey toward the south. Thou
mayest not delay me."
"I could if I would," returned the innkeeper, his surly mood vanishing
as he saw before him the opportunity of enjoying himself by tormenting
somebody.
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