“What can Henry have to do with Brean?” she wondered.
“When we know that we shall perhaps know the whole. Go, now, my love! And remember that I am close to you!”
“I could not forget that,” she said simply, and touched her horse with her heel, and rode away.
Captain Staple watched her canter across the field, and went slowly back to finish grooming Beau.
Half an hour later, when he re-entered the toll-house, he found Joseph Lydd in possession of the kitchen. Mr. Lydd’s coat hung over the back of a chair, and he was engaged in polishing Beau’s bit. He looked up when the Captain came in, and grinned at him. “’Morning, gov’nor! I was coming to look for you, but seeing as how I happened to catch sight of this here bridle, which you brought in to clean—and not before it needed it, if I may make so bold!—I thought I might as well rub it up for you. You’ll find your stirrup-irons over there.”
“Thank you! I’m much obliged to you!” John said. “Draw yourself a glass of beer, and one for me, too! Is Ben on the gate?”
“In a manner of speaking, he is. He was giving young Biggin pepper ten minutes ago: regular mill they was having, and the claret flowing very free, which it gen’rally does, when a couple of boys get to sparring,” said Lydd, collecting two glasses and a jug from the cupboard. “Howsever, I dessay they’ve thought of something else to do by this time, for they was both blowing when I saw ’em.”
“Up to mischief, I expect,” said John, vigorously scrubbing his hands at the sink. “What brings you here this morning?”
“You’re wanted up at the Manor, gov’nor, that’s what.”
John looked quickly over his shoulder at him. “Who wants me?”