Dismissing his vassal hastily, Hobb Dipping pours out a mug of strong spiced ale, and presents it to his visitor.
‘I ask your pardon, sir,’ said the old man, ‘for letting you wait such a while outside; the snow lies so thick that I did not hear the sound of your horse’s hoofs.’
Before honest Dipping could finish his speech, he was startled by his visitor making a quick movement and catching eagerly at the scrap of paper which the landlord had a short while ago held in his hand, and which, on rising to receive the traveller, he had laid on the table. There was a short uncomfortable pause, while Reginald eagerly turned over the object in his hand. ‘How did you come by this?’ he at length gasped out, the tone of his voice expressing great eagerness and anxiety.
Hobb Dipping’s first thought was to hollo for Jerry, having some idea that his strange visitor’s head must be turned; his second, was to try and remember where he had placed his spectacles.
‘My sight is bad, sir,’ he said as he fumbled in his pockets. ‘I can scarcely make out what you be askin’ of.’
‘This—this piece of paper!’ exclaimed Ainslie, thrusting forward the identical scrap which old Hobb had been examining at the time of his arrival.
‘It come here by accident, sir,’ answered old Hobb slowly and unwillingly.
‘Was left here, eh?’
‘Just so, sir—it were.’
‘How long ago?’