He stood up presently to stretch his legs before mounting again, and as
he stood up he heard running footsteps somewhere beyond the house: they
died away; but then came the sound of another runner, and of another,
and he heard voices calling. Then a window was flung up beyond the
house; steps came rattling down the stairs within and passed out into
the street. It was probably a bull that had escaped, or a mad dog, he
thought, or some rustic excitement of that kind, and he thought he would
go and see it for himself; so he passed out through the house, just in
time to meet Mr. Arnold coming round with the horses.
"What was the noise about?" he asked.
The other looked at him.
"I heard none, sir," he said. "I was in the stable."
Robin looked up and down the street. It seemed as empty as it should be
on a summer's day; two or three women were at the doors of their houses,
and an old dog was asleep in the sun. There was no sign of any
disturbance.
"Where is the woman of the house?" asked Robin.
"I do not know, sir."
They could not go without paying; but Robin marvelled at the simplicity
of these folks, to leave a couple of guests free to ride away; he went
within again and called out, but there was no one to be seen.
"This is laughable," he said, coming out again. "Shall we leave a mark
behind us and be off?"
"Are they all gone, sir?" asked the other, staring at him.
"I heard some running and calling out just now," said Robin.
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