“Aye, that be my name. What may your business be?”
“It is a delicate and in some respects a painful one,” returned Bradley.
“Oh, indeed, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yes, I am deputed by my friend, Mr. Eric Fortescue, to wait upon you. In the first place I am directed by him to demand the things he left here, together with his horse, which I am to take back to his town residence.”
Upon this he handed the farmer the first letter.
“You can take ’em wi’ you at once, the sooner the better,” said Ashbrook, after he had perused the letter; then thrusting his head out of the front door, he called out, “Joe, Joe.”
Joe Doughty made his appearance.
“Go upstairs and bring down Mr. Fortescue’s portmanteau,” said Ashbrook.
Joe did as he was bid, and in a few seconds returned with the article in question.
“There it be,” said the farmer, addressing himself to the false captain. “Now, Joe, let this gentleman have the black horse—him as is owned by Mr. Fortescue.”