"Ferguson!" quoth one of them uneasily. "Our godly chaplain!"
I nodded, though more than doubtful of the godliness; and he added:
"Why, then, didst not tell us this before, friend?"
"What now!" I shouted with a show of anger as I sheathed my sword. "Am I, then, to cry my business out to every brace of thieves I meet?"
"You speak with heat, not knowing," whined the lantern-bearer. "Verily, we are no thieves, but honest fighters for the cause, seeking horses, which are sorely lacking. And if we had known the nature of thy business, we----"
"Fool!" I broke in fiercely. "Cease thy prating, and open that door at once, or methinks 'twill be the worse for you. One word of this delay to Dr. Ferguson, and----"
Back flew the door, and, as I moved slowly forward, the opener of it laid a trembling hand upon my arm, saying:
"Pray you, sir, get not two honest fellows into trouble. 'Twas done in ignorance."
"I will consider that," I answered sternly, striding beside my mare into the yard with great relief. Truly, one Ferguson had served my purpose handsomely!
Turning to the left, in order to avoid the crowded yard, I passed down a well-known entry, and so came out into a dark and now quite deserted street.