"Not I," declared Humphrey. "I had not before heard of such a thing."
The man of the hut regarded him pityingly. Then he said: "Come down
from thy horse, thou unwitting lucky one, and come thou and the lad
within while I do hide thy horses in a thick, for I would share thy
luck. Dost not know that to show kindness to a lucky one is to share
his fortune? Thou hadst not come within the hut but for thy mole, I
warrant thee. For I do know that thou art the false priest and the
young lord from Oundle that stopped not at St. Albans as ye were bid."
Hugo and Humphrey looked at each other. Then Humphrey said, "I know
not, after all, whether to come in or not."
"Come in! come in!" cried the old man, eagerly. "I must share thy luck,
and that could I not do if I played thee false. Come in!"
Still hesitating, Humphrey glanced about him. He knew not who might be
on his track. And then he decided to go in.
"No matter who knocketh while I be gone," said the old man, earnestly,
"give heed to none. Only when I come and knock four times: one for
thee, one time for the lad, and two times for the two horses, which
signifieth that I know ye; listen close.
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