“Watermen, you say. Did they chase the footpads?”
“No, sir; the men ran away at once.”
“You’d know them again, I suppose?”
“I’m afraid not. It was nearly dark, and they attacked me so suddenly that I hadn’t time to get much of a look at them. But I did see that one of them had a big scar across his forehead, just above the eye.”
“And where did this happen?”
“A little way beyond Mr. Mumford’s, sir, just after I had given him your letter.”
“And you mean to tell me you were stupid enough to carry a costly goblet into that nest of rogues?”
“You told me to, sir.”
“I did not.”
“Indeed, sir, you said I was to take Mr. Mumford’s letter on my way, and that meant——”