"But you are mounted, and well too, and I a-foot, and cannot pace it
with you," replied De Guerre, hesitatingly.
"And your grey steed is too far away--even for that nimble squire to
bring in good time," retorted the other, a kind of smile distending the
rugged and untrimmed moustache that garnished his upper lip.
"My grey steed!" repeated Walter in astonishment.
"Yes, and a stout beast it is. But I will rein in my horse, and the
Place is not so distant but we may keep together."
"Thanks for your proffered hospitality," said De Guerre; "but must we
not do something with the fellow you have slain? His companion was too
swift o'foot for me."
"Let the tree lie even where it fell," replied the other, looking on the
body for an instant, and then mounting his horse with the greatest
composure; "some one will cover it with decent earth in the morning: let
us forward, my young friend."
De Guerre signified his consent, and walked, closely followed by Robin,
at the stranger's side.
"And so," observed the horseman, turning to the Ranger, "you are
accompanying us, uninvited, on our way. Wert thou ever engaged in any of
the mummeries of Satan, denominated stage plays? Of all the tricks
learned at courts, that of tumbling is the most dangerous; and as thy
master, Sir Willmott Burrell, has not practised it yet, I am at a loss
to understand how thou couldst be so perfect."
"I have served many masters, sir, and am now out of employ," replied
Robin, whose ready wit appeared to have deserted him, and who kept as
near as possible to De Guerre.
"Thou sayest truly; and lest one of them may have a demand upon thee ere
morning, what say ye to wending onward to that unholy resort of
cavaliers and smugglers, called the Gull's Nest, and leaving us to
pursue our course unattended to Sir Robert Cecil?"
Robin bowed as respectfully as he could, and was about to whisper some
words to De Guerre, when the stranger added, in a stern voice,-"On, on! no whispering."
Robin held up his hands, as if he would have said, "How can I help it?"
and sprang over the adjoining fence with his usual agility.
They proceeded some little time without speaking, De Guerre,
discontented with himself at the power his extraordinary companion so
strangely possessed over him, yet yielding to an influence against which
he felt it impossible to contend.