"Dost mind what the greenwood man said as he died?" he whispered.
A light of understanding leaped into Hugh's face.
"'Twas a swart, pock-marked man from the sea hired them!" he exclaimed.
"Ay!"
Hugh drew a deep breath.
"Then we must away from here," he said. He turned to Nicholas Dunning. "Messer Nicholas," he went on, "we accept your offer. An you start with the morn, it were best we came aboard your vessel to-night."
"All shall be ready for you, lords," assented the shipman. "We sail with the morrow's tide. And you will be in honest English company, fair sirs, and not with slit-nosed mongrel scourings of the Inner Sea."
He sniffed with contempt of his rival as he left the room.
"A monstrous brave man, by Our Lady," remarked Ralph admiringly.