"No man
may wrest it from me."
Without further words Humphrey led the way, his mind full of anxious
thoughts as to how he was to get himself, Hugo, and the horses away
from the White Horse in Lombard Street without rousing suspicion when
the mule of old Bartlemy was left behind and the old man himself in his
character of nurse was missing. He was still busily thinking when they
came to a respectable little inn called the Hart. Turning to old
Bartlemy, who was following close behind, he said, "Here do we stop
till I pay thee what thou hast asked."
Old Bartlemy said nothing, but he rubbed his hands together in delight,
and kept so close to Humphrey that he almost trod on his heels.
"Now," said Humphrey, when they were alone and the old man had been
paid, "I ask thee this grace, Bartlemy. Wilt thou not once more put on
the nurse's garb and come back with me to the White Horse till I can
pay the reckoning and get away? After that thou mayest cast it aside
and wear it no more."
"Nay," replied old Bartlemy, jingling the gold pieces and looking at
them with gloating eyes. "Nay, I will put on woman's dress no more.
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