“Halloo, there!”
The footsteps approached the gate. A man’s voice called to them from the other side, and they could hear the dog rubbing his snout along the lower edge and sniffing.
“Who’s there?”
“We have lost our way, and want a night’s lodging.”
“Who’s who?”
“Two gentlemen travelling alone. Open the gate, my good fellow, and take us in—”
“Deuce take you, that I shall not.”
Mr. Pepys, who had led the horses forward, put in a bland appeal.
“My good soul, why so surly? We are honest men and have the wherewithal to pay. What is more, we are hungry and dead tired.”
“How many are you?” asked the voice, while the dog kept sniffing at the gate.