"Nay, master, not till next sunrise," he returned. Edmund groaned.
"But I cannot stay outside all night," he said. "Come, open the gate, there's a good fellow."
"I were like to lose my position if I did," answered the other. "I cannot unless—," and he significantly jingled some coins in his pocket.
"Unless what?"
The gatekeeper thought Edmund Wynne uncommonly dull of comprehension, and with a little hesitation he suggested that it were surely worth a trifle if he did break through the rule.
"Here, here's a groat then," exclaimed the smith, bringing out his last coin as he saw the other moving away.
"Pooh, a sorry groat!" said the keeper, "Make it two, and then!"
"But I must get in to-night," expostulated Edmund, "I have urgent business with Sir Ronald Bury. It is important, it is a matter of the State."
At the mention of Sir Ronald's name the key was inserted in the lock, and by the time the sentence was completed the great gate was swung open, and the visitor found himself, to his great satisfaction, beyond the barrier.
"I was but jesting," humbly said the man as he re-locked the gate; "for you must well know that we are not allowed to take bribes, though where the harm of it would be, I confess I cannot see."