“We’re favoured to-night, I see,” he remarked. “ ‘The gods have come down in the likeness of men!’ ”
Nobody answered him, and he stood with his back to the closed door with the sardonic smile deepening about his lips.
“I haven’t had the opportunity of wishing you the usual compliments, gentlemen,” he continued. “Absence must be my apology, and my absence can be explained in a few words. I prefer to be my own messenger when I have any news, good or ill, to share with my neighbours, and what I have to tell you is altogether good. I have been married whilst I was away, and have just brought my bride home with me. She has bid me leave this sovereign with you, Albert, so that the company may drink her health—the health of Nancy Inman, lately Nancy Clegg. I won’t ask you to drink mine.”
He put the coin into the astonished landlord’s hand as he spoke, and curled his lip contemptuously as he noted the hostile silence which greeted the communication. Only one man spoke—it was he who had revealed his thoughts a moment before.
“A lass ’at’ll wed thee is no loss to nob’dy,” he muttered sourly.
“Indeed!” said Inman, wheeling round and fixing the speaker with an eye that stabbed. “I’ll remember that to your credit, Jack Pearce.”
“Nay,” said Maniwel calmly; “you’d best forget it. Jack spoke before he thought. There’s one at my house ’at’ll be sorry he’s lost her, if so be as Mr. Inman’s speaking truth, which I don’t doubt.”
“The truth’s here, in black and white,” Inman replied with equal calmness; “anyone can see it who wants”; and he offered a paper to the landlord.
“Then poor Nancy’s tied a knot wi’ her tongue ’at she willn’t be able to loosen wi’ her teeth,” wailed old Ambrose, and would have said more but Inman interrupted him.
“I fancy you find me in the way, gentlemen, and will discuss this happy event more freely in my absence. There are some of you I cannot expect to honour this toast with any enthusiasm; but I won’t remain to spy on you. I am to share my wife’s home, and you will excuse me if I now return there to share her company.”