“Oh, you do, do you?”

Jim came up to him.

“Ye’ll let me ride with ye, sir? I won’t trouble ye, and I can ride behind, but I can’t let ye go alone. Ye might faint⁠—sir⁠—”

“I can assure you I am not like to be a pleasant companion!” said Carstares with a savage little laugh.

“Why, sir, I understand there’s something troubling ye. Will ye let me come?”

My lord scowled up at him, then relented suddenly.

“As you please.”

“Thank ye, sir.” Salter returned to his packing, cording one bag and placing it near the door, and quickly filling another. The piles of linen grew steadily smaller until they disappeared, and he retired into a cupboard to reappear with a great armful of coats and small-clothes.