"A hurt goes harder with him than with our horses. But I will do
my best, sir. I doubt not it will inconvenience thee much to wait here
till he be well. If thou couldst content thee with a beast sorry to look
at, but like the wind to go, we have a nag would carry thee along, and
thou couldst leave the stallion till thy return."
"But I come not back this way," replied Willan, strangely ready with his
lies, now he had once undertaken the role of a manoeuvrer. "I go far
south, even down to the harbors of the sound. I must bide the beast's
time now. He hath made time for me many a day, and I do assure you, good
Benoit, I love him as if he were my brother."
"Ay," replied the ostler; "so thought I when I saw thee bent under thy
saddle-bags and leading the horse by the rein. It's an evil man likes
not his beast. We say in Normandy, sir,--
"'Evil master to good beast,
Serve him ill at every feast!'"
"So he deserves," replied Willan, heartily; and in his heart he added,
"I hope I shall not get my deserts."
Benoit led the poor horse away toward the stables, and Willan entered
the house.
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