John lifted his saddle from the top of the beer-barrel, where he had laid it when he brought it down from the barn, and went out into the garden, accompanied by his friend. Mr. Babbacombe stripped off the rug from Beaus back, but no sooner had John set the saddle in place than he ejaculated: “Chirk! I must warn Ben,” and went back into the kitchen.
“If,” said Mr. Babbacombe, when he presently reappeared, “you’re expecting a visit from your High Toby friend, how should I receive him? I don’t wish to be backward in any attention, but the truth is, Jack, I never entertained a highwayman before, and I can’t but feel that if he did not find me acceptable he might prefer my watch and my money to my company.”
“No such thing! He’s an excellent fellow! But I’ve told Ben to go quietly out to him, when he hears his signal, and to tell him how it is. It won’t do to let him in while you’re here: he would dislike it—and me too, for having told you about him.” Mr. Babbacombe paused in the act of tightening a girth. “Do you mean to say I’m not to meet the fellow? No, that’s too shabby!” he said indignantly. “What the devil am I going to do with myself while you’re away?”
“Play casino with Ben!” said the Captain, unhitching his bridle from the fence.
Ten minutes later, he was dismounting in the stable yard at the Manor, and handing Beau over to Joseph, who said apologetically: “I’d have come back if I could, sir, but the master don’t understand as how you can’t leave Ben, and he would have me fetch Parson.”
“It doesn’t signify: I’ve left a friend of mine at the tollhouse. Was it your master who sent for me?”
“Ay, and mighty anxious he is you should come, gov’nor. Mr. Winkfield says as he’s been fretting outrageous, all on account of this letter I had to fetch in Sheffield. But it come by today’s mail, and it seems like he’s ready to slip his wind now he’s got it, for nothing would do but he must have Parson sent for, and you too.” He peered up at John’s face in the faint moonlight, and added pleadingly: “If you could set his mind at rest, sir, so as he’ll go easy——”
“You may be sure I will. I’ll go up to the house immediately. Where are Coate and young Stornaway?”
“Mr. Henry’s still abed, and Coate’s eating his dinner. There’s no fear you’ll see either of ’em.”
The Captain strode up the path to the side of the house. The door into the flagged passage was not locked, and a lamp was burning on the chest against the wall. John laid his hat and whip down beside it, and went along the passage to the narrow stairs. At the top, he met Winkfield. The valet greeted him with relief, and with less than his usual impassivity. It seemed for a moment as though he wished to make some kind of a communication. He started to speak, but faltered, and broke off, saying, after a pause: “I think, sir—I think I had best take you to my master directly!”