... Have you anything more, sir?"
"No."
"Then you had best be gone again at once.... Her Grace prays for you....
She had a fit of weeping last night to know that a priest was here and
she not able to have him.... Do you pray for her...."
V
Sunday morning dawned; the bells pealed out; the crowds went by the
church and came back to dinner; and yet no word had come to the inn.
Robin scarcely stirred out all that day for fear a summons should come
and he miss it. He feigned a little illness and sat wrapped up in the
corner window of the parlour upstairs, whence he could command both
roads--that which led to the Castle, and that which led to the bridge
over which Mr. Beale must come. He considered it prudent also to do
this, because of the fellow of whom Merton had told him--a man that
looked like a groom, and who was lent, he heard, with one or two others
by his master to do service at the Castle.
Robin's own plan had been distinct ever since M. de Preau had brought
him the first message. He bore himself, as has been said, assuredly and
confidently; and if he were questioned would simply have said that he
had business connected with the Castle. This, asserted in a proper tone,
would probably have its effect. There was so much mystery, involving
such highly-placed personages from the Queen of England downwards, that
discretion was safer than curiosity.
* * * * *
It was growing towards dark when Robin, after long and fruitless staring
down the castle road, turned himself to the other.
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