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In the Castle Gardens the millionaires finished the buns, and though the curranty softness of these were delicious, and acted like a charm in raising the spirits of the party, yet even the stoutest heart quailed at the thought of venturing to sound Mr Billy Peasemarsh at the Saracen's Head on the subject of a horse and carriage.
'I tell you, said Robert, 'we want to buy some horses and carriages, and a man told us you were straight and civil spoken, but I shouldn't wonder if he was mistaken. 'Upon my sacred! said Mr Peasemarsh. 'Shall I trot the whole stable out for your Honour's worship to see? Or shall I send round to the Bishop's to see if he's a nag or two to dispose of?
Mr Peasemarsh was in the yard, and Robert opened the business in these terms 'They tell me you have a lot of horses and carriages to sell. It had been agreed that Robert should be spokesman, because in books it is always the gentlemen who buy horses, and not ladies, and Cyril had had his go at the Blue Boar. 'They tell you true, young man, said Mr Peasemarsh.
Still it was a blow, even to the most desponding, when he said shortly "Willum, shut the yard doors;" and Willum grinned and went to shut them. "Good-afternoon," said Robert hastily; "we shan't buy any horses now, whatever you say, and I hope it'll be a lesson to you." He had seen a little side gate open, and was moving towards it as he spoke. But Billy Peasemarsh put himself in the way.
'If you were going to buy a carriage and horses, where would you go? asked Cyril, as if he were only asking for the sake of something to say. 'Billy Peasemarsh, at the Saracen's Head, said the old man promptly. 'Though all forbid I should recommend any man where it's a question of horses, no more than I'd take anybody else's recommending if I was a-buying one.
"Please do," said Robert, "if it's not too much trouble. It would be very kind of you." Mr. Peasemarsh put his hands in his pockets and laughed, and they did not like the way he did it. Then he shouted "Willum!" A stooping ostler appeared in a stable door. "Here, Willum, come and look at this 'ere young dook! Wants to buy the whole stud, lock, stock, and bar'l.
Peasemarsh, and he said it twenty times as crossly as he had spoken to Martha. Martha was as good as her word.
If I ever see him again I'll wish for something for you; at least I would if vengeance wasn't wicked so there!" "Lor' lumme," said Billy Peasemarsh, "if there ain't another on 'em!" And now Willum came back, with a spiteful grin on his face, and at his back a policeman, with whom Mr. Peasemarsh spoke long in a hoarse earnest whisper. "I daresay you're right," said the policeman at last.
'Not so fast, you young off-scouring! he said. 'Willum, fetch the pleece. Willum went. The children stood huddled together like frightened sheep, and Mr Peasemarsh spoke to them till the pleece arrived. He said many things. Among other things he said: 'Nice lot you are, aren't you, coming tempting honest men with your guineas! 'They ARE our guineas, said Cyril boldly.
And as for tuppence what do you call this?" And before the others could stop him he had pulled out two fat handfuls of shining guineas, and held them out for Mr. Peasemarsh to look at. He did look. He snatched one up in his finger and thumb. He bit it, and Jane expected him to say, "The best horse in my stables is at your service." But the others knew better.
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