Chapter 15
THE Captain, having stabled Beau, walked back to the toll-house across the field, and entered it by the backdoor. He found Mr. Babbacombe alone, seated by the fire, and sipping brandy and water. Mr. Babbacombe raised a weary eyebrow, and said: “What, didn’t they offer you a bed? How shabby!”
The Captain grinned at him. “I beg pardon! Have I been away so long? Where’s Ben? Have you murdered him?”
“No, but I found him such a dead bore that I sent him to bed. Pike-keeping couldn’t be worse than playing casino with that bird-witted boy. I only had to open the gate twice—each time to your groom-acquaintance. Happily he knew what the toll was, for I did not.”
“Yes, I met Joseph on my way back,” John said, rather absently. He poured himself out some brandy, while his friend sleepily watched him. He glanced down at Babbacombe. “Did Chirk come?”
“I imagine he did, since Ben slid from the place in what he no doubt considered to be an unobtrusive fashion.”
“I hope he means to come again tomorrow. If not, I must go in search of him, and I fancy that will mean a twenty-mile ride, if not more.”
“If you’re trying to tell me, Jack, that you want me to make a cake of myself, minding the pike while you’re away——”
“No, Ben can attend to it during the day. But I don’t want you to go back to Edenhope tomorrow!”
Mr. Babbacombe yawned. “Dear boy—not the slightest intention of doing so! Someone must carry the news to your mother that you’ve been taken off to Newgate.”