"They have not come far," he said to himself. "Their garments be not
travel-stained enough for that. They be some dullards of small wit on
their first journey, for the groom did say they knew not that this was
Dunstable."
His observations were here cut short by the appearance of three other
travellers; but their entrance failed to arouse the priest and his
novice, who remained, as before, apparently asleep.
"Yea, verily," thought the innkeeper, as he slowly advanced to meet the
newcomers, "they be but two dullards. There is neither game nor gain to
be made of them as there is of this Walter Skinner, from whom I will
take his horse before I let him go. I will e'en bid priest and novice
pack to make room for these newcomers, from whom I may win something,
and to save room for others who may come."
Accordingly he set to work, but it was with great difficulty that he
roused the two. "_Pax vobiscum_," murmured Humphrey, sleepily. "Is the
supper ready?"
"Yea, but at some other inn," returned the innkeeper. "Here be three
worthy people just come in. There is not room for them and ye.
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