The pair stepped across Trafalgar Road together, Edwin, though he tried
to be sedate, nothing but a frisking morsel by the side of the vast
monument. Compared with the architectural grandeur of Mr Varlett, his
thin, supple, free-moving limbs had an almost pathetic appearance of
ephemeral fragility.
Big James directed himself to the archway leading to the Dragon stables,
and there he saw an ostler or oddman. Edwin, feeling the imminence of
an ordeal, surreptitiously explored a pocket to be sure that the proof
of the wedding-card was safely there.
The ostler raised his reddish eyebrows to Big James. Big James jerked
his head to one side, indicating apparently the entire Dragon, and
simultaneously conveying a query. The ostler paused immobile an instant
and then shook his insignificant turnip-pate. Big James turned away.
No word had been spoken; nevertheless, the men had exchanged a dialogue
which might be thus put into words--
"I wasn't thinking to see ye so soon," from the ostler.
"Then nobody of any importance has yet gone into the assembly room?"
from Big James.
"Nobody worth speaking of, and won't, for a while," from the other.
"Then I'll take a turn," from Big James.