“I am glad to have you in my company, Master Deane,” said the latter, now for the first time throwing off all disguise.
“I am obliged to you,” said Jack. “I knew you, Master Pearson, the moment I saw you.”
“So I thought,” was the answer. “When we parted at Cambridge, I was not certain in which character I should come to Saint Faith’s. However, you might have found it difficult to come north without me, and I therefore have made arrangements to accompany you.”
“But why this masquerading, Master Pearson?” asked Jack. “Mr Harwood’s recommendation makes me place confidence in you, but I tell you frankly, I would rather know more about you than I do!”
“Very sensibly spoken,” said Pearson, laughing. “The state of the times makes ‘masquerading,’ as you call it, necessary; but of one thing you may be sure, that I mean you fair; I will treat you honourably. Had I not given you warning, you would have returned to Nottingham, and have been clapped probably into the stocks; for depend upon it some of the country gentlemen round would have been too glad to get hold of your father’s son, and by punishing him, keep in awe others of less degree.”
“I am sure you mean me well,” said Jack, whose disposition made him unsuspicious of others. “But we shall pass within a short distance of Nottingham, and I should like to go and pay them a visit during the evening, when the darkness will prevent me being recognised, just to tell them where I am going, and what I propose doing.”
“Oh, Master Brinsmead will do that in a few days!” answered the northern drover; “depend upon it there are some on the watch for you, and you would run a considerable risk in returning home, even for a short time.”
Jack thought this very likely, and did not press the point, but suddenly another idea occurred to him.
“I might surely visit Harwood Grange?” he observed; “no one would be looking for me there, and I should like to see Mr Harwood and gain some information respecting the persons to whom I am to deliver these letters.”
“I will think about that, my lad, as we ride on,” answered Pearson. “Our direct road will take us a good deal to the east of Sherwood Forest, and your visit to the Grange would cause considerable delay. I do not at present see that this is necessary, though, to be sure, you may have some attraction there with which I am not acquainted.”