"Had a good breakfast?"
I assured him that I had never made such a meal in my life.
"That's right. Now, we want you to tell us your story in your own way; but mind, no beating about the bush."
I had already resolved to tell just so much as was necessary, without naming names, so I began:
"I was on my way to Bristowe, sir, and two nights ago, being overtaken by the rain, I sought shelter in a decayed barn near the roadside, and slept among some hay. Before morning three men came in whom I soon discovered from their speech to be poachers. They found me, robbed me of my money--not a vast sum--and forced me to exchange garments with them."
Here the flicker of a smile crossed the gentleman's face.
"They left me tied hand and foot, and when I released myself I was in such a taking at the scarecrow figure I must cut that I shunned the sight of men, and kept to the fields. But I had not eaten since noon of the day of my misadventure, and, being desperately hungry, I entered your gate to beg a meal, purposing to pay for it by some service for you."
"Hum! What then of this crown piece which you confessed was yours? Why need ye starve with that in your pocket?"
"To that, sir, I have no answer, save that I would not spend it till the last extremity."
"Hum! How old are you?"