“But how came you by the despatch?”
“How coomed I by it?”
“Yes, who gave it to you?”
“Well—Master Henry—I got it—a gentleman I met last night—he—he gin it me.”
“Last night you say? At what hour?”
“Well, it was lateish—considerably lateish i’ the night.”
“Was it before, or after—?”
“I met you, Master Henry? That be what ye would be askin’? Well, it war a—leetlish bit arter.”
Gregory hung his head, looking rather sheepish, as he made the stammering acknowledgment. He evidently dreaded further cross-questioning.
“What sort of gentleman was he?” inquired the cavalier, with an air of interest, that had something else for its cause than the backslidings of the footpad.