She said nothing, but sat very still and pallid, watching me with fluttering eyes; nor would she take the wine I ordered.
"Drink, my little cockatrice," said I, with command, and on that she sipped at the liquor, making a pretence.
A little after comes the innkeeper, and, staring on us, beckons me forth with his finger. I stepped into the passage wondering what game this might be, when says he, suddenly,—
"I recognise you, Captain. Yonder are fine feathers. A precious morsel you ha' gotten somewhere," says he.
"Oh, damn your words," says I. "D'ye suppose I left my home to hear this muck?"
"No, Captain," says he, lowering his voice, "but there has been a pother on the heaths this past week, and the traps are about. There is one or more in the room behind you."
At that I whistled and thanked him. "I will put the wine in my gullet and mizzle," said I, not that I cared for the traps, but 'twas safer for the aim I was making. So I was not three minutes ere I was in the saddle with the girl as before, and we were riding amain for Godalming.
"You ride hard, sir," said she, presently; and when I made no answer, for to say the truth I wanted no more of her voice, and the job for the first time disaffected me, "I think I should say," she went on quietly, "that when you were with the taverner there was one looked in upon me from a further room."
"Why d'ye say this?" I asked abruptly.
"He was well armed," says she, "and there was another with him. I had but to raise my finger," she says quietly.