Page:The Dark Frigate (Hawes).djvu/55

“Hast come far?” a wrinkled old man asked.

“Aye, from Larwood.”

“The horses stood the day’s travel well?”

“Aye, they are good beasts. But much depends on proper handling. It makes a deal of difference who holds the reins.” He looked about with an air of generous patronage. “That, and their meat.” He nodded toward one of the men. “’T is well, though, when at night they are well fed, to fill the rack with barley-straw or wheat ere leaving them, as I showed thee, that perceiving it is not pleasant they may lie down and take their rest, which is in itself as good as meat for the next day’s work.”

A general murmur of assent greeted this observation.

“Goest far?” another asked.

“Aye, to Lincoln.”

A rumble of surprise ran about the stable and the deference of the stablemen visibly increased.

“Hast been long away?”

“Aye, six weeks to the day.”

“It do take a deal of silver to travel thus.”

“Aye, aye.” He condescended to smile. “But there are few of the clergy in England can better afford a journey to the Isle o’ Wight than the good Dr. Marsham, and he is one who grudges nought when his lady hath been ill. ’T is wonderful what travel will do for the ailing. Aye, he hath visited in many great houses and I have seen good company while we have been on the road.”

Phil had looked up. “Where is this Doctor Marsham’s home?” he asked.

All frowned at the rash young man’s temerity in thus familiarly accosting the powerful personage in livery,