The
groom bringeth your horses, and ye must go." Without a word of
objection Hugo and Humphrey rose to do the innkeeper's bidding and
depart. But they walked like men half awake, and followed the innkeeper
stumblingly; and mounted their horses clumsily, to the great merriment
of the groom. It was now dark, and they knew not which way to turn. "I
choose not another inn," said Humphrey, "though we bide supperless in
the streets."
"Then choose I," returned Hugo. And he rode off down the street with
Humphrey close beside him.
"Lad, lad!" cried the serving-man, "thou must not lead. It will betray
us."
At once Hugo fell behind, and the two rode on until, at a little inn
called the Blue Bell, the boy bade the serving-man stop. The two
alighted, gave their horses to the groom, went in, were promptly served
a good supper, and, in due time, were shown to their beds.
"There be dangers on the Watling Street as well as in the fen," said
Humphrey.
In the meanwhile the keeper of the Shorn Lamb was having his enjoyment
at the expense of Walter Skinner. He bade him serve the three strangers
and fear nothing, as no one would recognize him in the guise of a
scullion.
Pages:
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260