Part 8 (2/2)
Therefore when Sir Humphrey's coach stopped at the cross-roads, and the Squire himself alighted therefrom and walked towards the smith's cottage, the latter came forward with all the deference due to a personage of such consequence, and asked respectfully what he might do for his Honour.
”Only repair this pistol for me, master smith,” said Sir Humphrey; ”you might also examine the lock of its fellow. One needs them in these parts.”
He laughed a not unpleasant boisterous laugh as he handed a pair of silver-mounted pistols to John Stich.
”Will your Honour wait while I get them done?” asked John, with some hesitation. ”They won't take long.”
”Nay! I'll be down this way again to-morrow,” replied his Honour. ”I am putting up at Aldwark for the night.”
John said nothing. Probably he mistrusted the language which rose to his lips at this announcement of Sir Humphrey's plans. In a moment he remembered Lady Patience's look of terror when the squire's coach first came into view on the crest of the distant hill, and his faithful, honest heart quivered with apprehension at the thought that a man whom she so obviously mistrusted was so close upon her track.
”I suppose there is a decent inn in that G.o.d-forsaken hole, eh?” asked the Squire, jovially. ”I've arranged to meet my man of business there, that old scarecrow, Mittachip, but I'd wish to spend the night.”
”There's only a small wayside inn, your Honour...” murmured John.
”Better than this abode of cut-throats, this Bra.s.sing Moor, anyway,”
laughed his Honour. ”Begad! night overtook me some ten miles from Hartington, and I was attacked by a d.a.m.ned rascal who robbed me of fifty guineas. My men were a pair of cowards, and I was helpless inside my coach.”
John tried to repress a smile. The story of Sir Humphrey Challoner's midnight adventure had culminated in fifty guineas being found in the poor box at Bra.s.sington court-house, and Mr Inch, the beadle, had brought the news of it even as far as the cross-roads.
”I must see Squire West about this business,” muttered Sir Humphrey, whilst John stood silent, apparently intent on examining the pistols.
”'Tis a scandal to the whole country, this constant highway robbery on Bra.s.sing Moor. The impudent rascal who attacked me was dressed like a prince, and rode a horse worth eighty guineas at the least. I suspect him to be the man they call Beau Brocade.”
”Did your Honour see him plainly?” asked John, somewhat anxiously.
”See him?” laughed Sir Humphrey. ”Does one ever see these rascals?
Begad! he had stopped my coach, plundered me and had galloped off ere I could shout 'd.a.m.n you' thrice. Just for one moment, though, one of my lanterns flashed upon the impudent thief. He was masked, of course, but I tell thee, honest friend, he had on a coat the Prince of Wales might envy; as for his horse, 'twas a thorough-bred I'd have given eighty guineas to possess.”
”And everyone knows your Honour is clever at a bargain,” said John, with a suspicion of malice.
”Humph!” grunted the Squire. ”By Gad!” he added, with his usual jovial laugh, ”the rogue does not belie his name-'Beau Brocade' forsooth!
Faith! he dresses like a lord, and cuts your purse with an air of gallantry, an he were doing you a favour.”
It was difficult to tell what went on in Sir Humphrey Challoner's mind behind that handsome, somewhat florid face of his. The task was in any case quite beyond the powers of honest John Stich, though he would have given quite a good deal of his worldly wealth to know for certain whether his Honour's journey across Bra.s.sing Moor and on to Aldwark had anything to do with that of Lady Patience along the same road.
Nothing the Squire said, however, helped John towards making a guess in that direction. Just as Sir Humphrey, having left the pistols in the smith's hands, turned to go back to his coach, he said quite casually,-
”Whose was the coach that pa.s.sed here about half an hour before mine?”
”The coach, your Honour?”
”Aye! when we reached the crest of the hill my man told me he could see a coach standing at the cross-roads, whose was it?”
For one moment John hesitated. The situation was just a little too delicate for the worthy smith to handle. But he felt, as Sir Humphrey was going to Aldwark and therefore would surely meet Lady Patience, that lying would be worse than useless, and might even arouse unpleasant suspicions.
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