"Thou mayest remain, Hickman," said he to his new acquaintance.
Eccleston proceeded to business as follows:--
"You may readily remember that I once happened a sore mischance--to wit,
by losing a horse I had but lately bought, and which, through your good
offices, kindly and without fee administered, I again got back, to my
great joy and comfort. I was telling of this but few days agone to a
friend of mine, one Barnabas Hardcastle, whom I have made bold to bring
before your reverence. He but laughed at me for my pains, and would in
no wise believe it, but mark how he was served! Within this hour, he
tells me that he has lost his mare, and would fain have the like help to
its recovery."
"Hast thou lost thy beast?" inquired the Doctor.
"Verily I have," said Barnabas, making a respectful acknowledgment to
the Doctor's dignified address. "It was but this morning she was safe as
Mancastle is in the dirt, hard by Mr Lever's house yonder, in the
fields. 'Tis a grievous loss, Master Dee, seeing that I was offered a
score of pounds for the beast last Martinmas."
The Doctor opened his tables, and erected a scheme or figure of the
heavens, to the very minute when this communication was made.
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