The journey from
London to the far north of Yorkshire was, therefore, a long one,
occupying two or three days.
Sir Oswald left town an hour after his interview with Reginald
Eversleigh.
It was ten o'clock when he alighted for the first time in a large,
bustling town on the great northern road. He had changed horses several
times since leaving London, and had accomplished a considerable
distance within the five hours. He put up at the principal hotel, where
he intended to remain for the night. From the windows of his rooms was
to be seen the broad, open market-place, which to-night was brilliantly
lighted, and thronged with people. Sir Oswald looked with surprise at
the bustling scene, as one of the waiters drew the curtains before the
long windows.
"Your town seems busy to-night," he said.
"Yes, sir; there has been a fair, sir--our spring fair, sir--a cattle
fair, sir. Perhaps you'd rather not have the curtains drawn, sir. You
may like to look out of the window after dinner, sir."
"Look out of the window?--oh, dear no! Close the curtains by all
means."
The waiter wondered at the gentleman's bad taste, and withdrew to
hasten the well-known guest's dinner.
It was long past eleven, and Sir Oswald was sitting brooding before the
fire, when he was startled from his reverie by the sound of a woman's
voice singing in the market-place below.
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