"Nay, nay, Cap’n," interrupted the man; "I know nought o’ the letter. I’ll tell ’ee how it all come about. I was openen the gate for Squire, when—" "Speak lower, man; your brazen throat’ll wake the house." "I was openen the gate for Squire," resumed the fellow in a lower tone, which was, however, still audible to Sherebiah’s straining ears, "when who should come by but young master popinjay dressed all in his black. He never bobbed to Squire, not he; never so much as cast eyes on un; but when Squire saw the young swaggerer he stopped still as a stone, and looked after un dazed like. Then he put his arm on the gate, a’ did, and leant heavy on it, thinken mortal hard; ’twas a matter o’ five minutes afore he lifted his head again, and never seed I a stranger look on any man’s face than I seed then on Squire’s. A’ jumped when his eyes fell on me; ’What be staren at, fool?’ says he, in one of his rages. ’Shall I run for doctor?’ says I; ’you do look mortal bad.’ ’Nay,’ says he, ’’tis nothen; a little faintness; ’twill pass.’ I touched my cap, as becomes me, and Squire went into park and shut gate behind un. But a’ hadn’t walked more nor three steps when a’ stops, swings about, and ’Jock!’ says he, ’order post-horses for Hungerford road to-morrer. And come up to hall inside of an hour; I shall ha’ a job for ’ee.’ "Well, I went up to hall after I’d ordered horses, and Squire give me this letter. ’You’ll ride to Lun’on to-morrer, and take this letter to Cap’n Aglionby at White Hart, South’ark. And you’ll tell the cap’n where young Master Rochester be stayen.’ ’How’ll I know that, Squire?’ says I. ’Pon that he burst into one of his terr’ble rages again. ’How, fool!’ says he; ’why, keep the coach in sight, and see that ’ee make no mistake.’ So here I be, Cap’n, and young Master Rochester he’s at Angel and Crown in Threadneedle Street." "Thank ’ee, Jock; I know the house. And is the young springald alone?" "Not he; has Sherry Minshull with un, a-carryen his belongens." "Zounds and thunder! did Sherry see you?" "No, i’ feck; I kept too far from coach to be seen for sarten, and at Angel and Crown Sherry was too heavy laden to spy me." "Well for you, well for you! Jock, you’ll come and take up your quarters here; there’s plenty of room. I’ll tell ’em to gi’ ye a bed." "What about the horse, Cap’n? I left un at Angel and Crown." "Let him bide till morning; then you can bring him here too." "But Squire, Cap’n,—won’t he expect us back, me and horse?" "Not he; ’tis here written; I’m to keep you if there’s any work for you, and odzooks! I’ll ha’ some work for you, never fear. Jock, if your story has made you as dry as it has made me you’re main thirsty; go down and bring up beer for two, and a lighted candle. I’ll ring and wake that rascal by the time you get to the foot of the stairs."