The young men led the chargers out through the low doorway into the yard and began crossing to where the King was drawing himself up with a stern look upon his countenance, his right hand upon his hip, his left upon his sword-hilt, which he kept on pressing down and elevating and lowering the long thin blade behind him, the afternoon sun throwing it out in a long dark streak from his shadow, giving him the effect of some monster wagging its wiry tail.
The hostess was still there, drawing back a little into the shadow of the comparatively dark doorway, a mingling of curiosity and sympathy detaining her to hear how her offending guests would fare.
She had not long to wait, for as the young men came up with the horses’ hoofs clattering upon the paved way, “Now, gentlemen,” was growled forth, “why am I left like this? And by whose orders have you brought forth those steeds?”
“What!” thundered the King fiercely, after hearing a brief narration of his followers’ adventure; and turning to their hostess, who heard every word and stood loaning forward with agitated face and clasped hands, “And so, madam, you call this the safety of your inn! This, then, is the meaning of that warning paper which you have disavowed. Gentlemen, we seem to have settled in a nest of thieves. Have your valises placed at your saddles. I thank you for the way in which you have saved us from disaster at the beginning of our journey. We will ride on at once.”
“Oh,” ejaculated the hostess, “that it should come to this!” And ceasing to wring her hands she ran out past them and crossed the yard to the open stable-door, disappeared for just long enough to verify the young men’s words by a sight of the sleeping grooms, and then came running back to where her guests were making preparations to continue their journey.
“Oh, my lord,” she cried, “it is a disgrace and shame to my house that all this should have taken place. I pray your forgiveness.”
“Indeed, madam!” said the King haughtily. “Tell my gentlemen there what there is to pay, and spare your words.”
“But, my lord—”
“Silence, madam! I have spoken. Gentlemen—”
“But, my lord,” she interrupted, “I will have trusty strong men to watch the stables and the house all night. This was the work of a stranger—some horse-thief from afar. It cannot occur again.”