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They came at last to a brighter window than any of the others, and this he approached with greater caution. He crouched under it and raised his great head slowly from the very corner until one eye saw into the room, which was filled with light and gave forth the clatter and hum of a great domestic bustling. Here he remained a long time, now ducking his head and now bobbing it up again, and when he came away a smile had replaced his frown. “She’s here,” he whispered. “From now on we ’ve a plain course to sail, without rock or sandbar.”

They retraced their steps and went boldly round the inn to the kitchen door. There were lights in the stable and men talking loudly of one thing and another. From the kitchen door, which stood ajar, came the rattle of dishes and the smell of food and a great bawling and clamouring as the mistress directed and the maids ran.

With a jaunty air and an ingratiating smile, Martin boldly stepped to the door. He knocked and waited but no one heeded his summons. A scowl replaced his smile and he knocked with redoubled vigour. The sound rang out clearly in the inn yard. Several men came to the door of the stable to see what was the matter and the clamour in the kitchen ceased. Steps approached, a firm hand threw wide the door, and a woman cried with harsh voice, “Well, then, what ’ll you have, who come to the back when honest folk go to the front?”

There was for a moment a disagreeable cast in Martin’s eyes, but his facile mouth resumed its easy smile. “An it please you, mistress, there are two gentlemen here would have a word with Nell Entick.”

“Gentlemen!” she cried with a great guffaw. ‘‘Gentry of the road, I make no doubt, who would steal away all the girl has—it’s little enough, God knows.”