"Where did this happen? when?—how long ago?" inquired Markham, not knowing whether to believe the statement thus strangely made to him, or not.
"If you really wish to know all about it," said the man, "step up this court, where we can talk in peace, and I will tell you. What! you think I am going to hurt you too? Well, be it so. Goodnight—or rather good morning."
At that moment Saint Giles's Church struck two.
"Stay," cried Richard, catching the man by the arm: "I will accompany you."
They walked together into a dark court, our hero keeping himself in readiness to resist any sudden hostility, were such a proceeding intended.
But the man appeared to have no such aim in view, for, leaning himself tranquilly against the wall, he said, "Can you keep a secret?"
"If I promise to do so," answered Richard.
"Then promise not to betray what I am going to tell you."
"I promise," said Markham, after some hesitation.
"You must know," continued the man, satisfied with this assurance, "that I have lately partaken of the hospitality of a race of persons, at whose head-quarters—not a hundred miles from where we are now standing—I met Anthony Tidkins——"