He then went with Meadows and Goodcole to the door within the porch; finding it made fast inside, he gave two rapid double knocks, then two single ones. Soon a tiny wicket opened behind a little grating in the door. Jerningham held a lantern close to his face so that he might be quickly recognised. The door opened, and Jerningham found Mistress Meg alone in the hall, where the light of a single candle struggled with the darkness. The lantern and torch brought in by the newcomers were a welcome reinforcement. Jerningham set the lantern on the chimney shelf, and had the torch thrust into a sconce on the wall.
"Did the new steward come?" he asked.
"The new steward?" quoth Meg, with faint derision at the title. "Yes; am I not still here?"
"Where is he?" asked the master, ignoring the allusion to her threat.
"In his chamber. He arrived, ate, drank, went thither; and I have not seen him since."
A sudden light came into Jerningham's eyes. "Ten to one he sleeps. He had a laborious day of it ere he came hither. What weapons had he when he came?"
"Rapier and dagger," answered Meg, looking surprised at the question.
"'Twere a good jest now," said Jerningham, pretending amusement, "to take them from him in his sleep, then come away and send Jeremy to wake him."
"Is he the kind of man to see the mirth of that jest?" inquired Meg, with little interest.