Bartlemy did not wait to answer, but, giving his mule a slap with the
reins, set forward, and in a moment all three were crossing the glade,
whence they followed the same bridle-path by which Hugo and Humphrey
had come the day before, and so gained the Watling Street. Many people
were upon it, and Bartlemy, following the instructions of him who had
planned for him, managed to ride near enough to a merchant's party to
be mistaken as members of it by an unthinking observer.
In his garb of esquire Humphrey was more at home than in that of the
priest, and he looked boldly about him. "Here be a strange thing, lad,"
he said. "As we did come upon this road I did see a priest with his
novice pass by. Seest thou that other near at hand? And looking back I
see yet another. He that watcheth for us is like to have his hands
full."
"Many priests be abroad," replied Hugo, with a smile. "It was to that
the Canon Thurstan trusted when he sent us forth."
"He should, then, not have sent us to that rascally one at Oundle,"
growled Humphrey. "Speak not o'er much with the lady," cautioned old
Bartlemy, riding up.
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