Peter was partaking of a noonday meal of bread and cheese and beer when a knock came on his cottage door. For a moment or two he thought his ears must have deceived him, and he did not move. But the knock was repeated.
Peter got up and opened the door. A man in footman’s garb was standing outside. He looked Peter up and down with a slightly supercilious expression.
“Well?” demanded Peter.
“The Lady Anne Garland wishes you to bring your penny whistle-pipe to the terrace at four o’clock this afternoon, and be punctual,” he announced.
It was not precisely the formula in which Lady Anne had worded the message, but Burton [Pg 104]considered it an exact enough paraphrase to be delivered to a mere vagabond. It was in his eyes an even over-courteous method of delivering the message.
“Indeed!” said Peter.
“Four punctual,” repeated the man with a slightly insolent air. And he turned from the door.
Had he lingered a moment longer Peter would quite probably have kicked him. Astonishment on Peter’s part and a swift retreat on his alone saved him.
“Upon my word!” ejaculated Peter, looking after the retreating figure. Then he went into the cottage and shut the door.
“Insolence or fame,” remarked Peter to his glass of beer, “in which light shall I regard it?” And then suddenly he laughed.