“That’s right enough, and no offence meant. Time was when I chalked the tally up on my door—but I tired o’ that.”
“You would—from all I hear of Garsykes.”
“Oh, they’re free enough with their money when they have any. It’s just that they seldom have.”
The widow, after bustling to serve him, went on with her interrupted dusting of the china dogs on the mantel, till curiosity got the better of her.
“Have you travelled far, like?” she asked over her shoulder.
“Not so very,” chuckled the stranger, “though I came near to going a very far way.”
“You don’t say, now.”
“Aye, but I do say.”
“And where might it be you nearly went?”
“Well, as you ask me—hell.”