“Oh, wouldn’t hear of it! Naught I could say was to any avail. He would be off home, and have no fuss made.”
“Very creditable,” said Sir Anthony, stifling a yawn, and strolled away to meet my Lord March, just come in.
Chapter 10
Sudden and Startling Appearance of the Old Gentleman
At Richmond, in the pleasant house with its gardens running down to the river, Sir Anthony was one of my Lady Lowestoft’s visitors. He rode out to pay a morning call, and was fortunate enough to find my lady and her two guests at home.
Sir Anthony indicated Prudence’s stiff shoulder with a movement of his quizzing-glass. “So you must needs go brawling about our streets, little man?”
There was a quick contraction of Robin’s brows. He looked up to find the sleepy gaze upon him, and straightaway achieved a shudder. “Oh pray, sir, don’t speak of it!”
“You should keep him closer tied to your apron strings, ma’am,” said Sir Anthony, and began to talk of the state of the roads. But upon my lady’s going out of the room he broke off to say: “Have you any idea that it was Markham’s men set upon you, young man?”
“Some little suspicion of it,” Prudence admitted. “I shall be more wary in the future.”
“It’s a vengeful creature.” Sir Anthony crossed one leg over the other. “I believe you would do well not to go abroad unaccompanied at night,” he said, and fell to twirling his eyeglass by its riband.