Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:16:23 +0000
From: Jo Vincent <joad130@hotmail.com>
Subject: Tom Brownings Schooldays 32

			 Tom Browning's Schooldays

				    By

				   Joel

			    Chapter Thirty Two



There was quite a hubbub as we entered Careby Hall.  Weary travellers we
may have been but we were such as needed to tell all our news and to hear
theirs.  Father waved a hand to quieten things and welcomed Geoffrey, who
stood much taller than George. However he looked just as an older version
of him, flaxen-haired and broad-shouldered as well.  As soon as father had
finished telling Geoffrey he must treat the place as if he were at home, he
excused himself.  He said he would retire to his room and have a rest
before dinner.  Torquil had gone over to where Robin was standing and was
smiling at him as he enveloped him in a great hug.  I saw tears in his eyes
as they parted and heard him say to his son,"We must talk together later".

     Mr Clements went out with father and was tut-tutting about something.
I don't think he approved of Torquil or me sitting in the drawing room in
our smelly and stained riding clothes.  It was no matter as, at that
moment, two of the maids appeared with another pot of tea and an assortment
of small cakes on a platter.  I was ready for food.  Timmy insisted on
serving me while Benjy did the honours for Torquil.  We were polite to our
guest and asked how his journey had been.  Geoffrey laughed and said it was
rough riding as they had tried some country lanes which were worse than
fields he had hunted over, but they had arrived safe and sound late on
Friday afternoon.  He had said 'they' as he had brought a young man of
nineteen with him who would be his groom and batman if suitably assessed as
a possible trooper by the recruiting sergeants.  The young man in question
was being entertained in the Servants' Quarters and had the maids hearts
a-flutter, or so Lancelot said.

     I asked how George was and found he was staying with Maitland and
would be driven back to Ashbourne.  On the way he would be collecting at
least three other young pupils, with Maitland riding alongside on Perseus.
Geoffrey said that his father, Lord Harford, had succumbed to the lad's
entreaties and had sent instructions for my father to supply a suitable
mount for George.  "Some docile old nag which won't run away with him," he
said laughing, "No, I jest, he is a good rider but the horse should not be
too mettlesome as George does rather take risks.  We don't want any broken
bones."  That meant another horse drover's task!

     It was then Timmy whispered something to Lancelot.  He nodded.  "Tom,
some sad news, there was a letter from Mr Ridley to my father.  Mr
Dimbleby's old horse Newton died on Christmas Day.  He wishes to replace
him and, as you know, Timmy had grown fond of that old nag so he has been
to the stables and picked out one which could be a suitable replacement.
All that remains now is that your father has to name a price."  He turned
to Timmy.  "You knew exactly which one to choose, didn't you?"

     Timmy smiled.  "Yes, sir, that one came forward of his own accord and
I was satisfied it was the one for Mr Dimbleby.  A kind horse for a kind
man."

     Geoffrey turned to him, too. "Young man, I have been here two days and
I have learned much about you.  Dr Dodd, here, has said you have quietened
beasts, know herbs, suggested plantings and chosen a mount for that
schoolmaster.  I have another task for you.  My father says I must have two
suitable chargers for myself and one for Mark Dawson my groom, as well as
some suitable ride for my brother.  I trust you will accompany us when we
see what Mr Browning has to offer."

     I wondered if this was some recompense for the treatment he had
received from a member of Geoffrey's family, albeit a side of the family
which was crooked and evil.  It was obvious Geoffrey was not of that ilk.

     Timmy bowed his head in acknowledgment.  "Sir, if Mr Browning will
allow me I would do my best."

     It was all talk after that.  Of course, the news had not yet reached
the house that Uncle Billy had been knighted.  The story of the parade with
the Royal Duke in attendance kept them all agog.  I think Geoffrey was
rather concerned at the pomp involved in being with the regiment in London.
He might be the son of a Lord but looked and sounded a countryman at heart.
I had to tell of the ball with Jabez and his friend Mehmet in their
costumes and of my performance at the At Home.  I said little about the
SoirＦ but said I had been driven all round London and had even been to
the Tower.

     "You have seen and done more than I have," said Geoffrey.  "I have
never been to London.  This is as far South as I have been."  His statement
had confirmed my opinion.  He went on, "I had tutors at home, as did my
elder brother, until we were sent to relatives to learn of farming.  This
is a new adventure.  Here am I at twenty-eight embarking on my voyage of
discovery!"

      I laughed. "I suggest you do not set sail on the Thames then.  That
waterway is foul and you venture on it at your peril I have been told,
especially if you fall in."

     "I have heard that, too," Geoffrey said, "My father still has an
interest in one of the wharves.  He knows that ships' captains do not like
to tarry when unloading or loading.  They say the miasmas carry many
poisonous diseases which are every bit as bad as in those sweltering places
their goods come from."

     Lancelot looked pensive.  "I have wondered if it is not the stenches
which produce the disease but it is the water itself which carries the
cause."

     "But from ancient times," I said, "the wisest of men have blamed bad
air, haven't they?  Doesn't malaria mean 'bad air'?"

     Lancelot nodded.  "That is true.  It would seem that hot, marshy
ground does give off vapours but why say that it is the air itself which
causes the illness?"

     Robin spoke up for the first time.  "You mean that doctors should look
elsewhere for their causes?  There would seem to be more disease and dying
in those poor hovels in London than in a village like Careby, unless they
are like those poor sojourners.  Edward Harrison said his father is also a
lawyer to an insurance company so must keep note of the deaths and the
causes as given in various parts of London.  I have seen the chart and the
maps he has in his study and there are many differences across the
parishes."

     I could see Lancelot was interested in this and would be questioning
Robin further.  We passed to happier matters.  We heard that Geoffrey and
George were now uncles twice over as their eldest brother's wife had been
delivered of twin boys on Christmas Day.  Their two sisters were with child
and Geoffrey thought that for both their time would be around Easter.  From
what he said I gained the impression they had been married off to sons of
other local landed gentry, if not the aristocracy.

     As we had finished eating and drinking by then Torquil and I took our
leave and went off to our rooms to wash and change into more suitable
clothing for the evening.  "Not too formal I hope," said Torquil as we
walked side by side up the stairs, "I have a clean shirt and a reasonable
suit of clothes in my saddle bags and will have to wait until the carrier
brings my boxes which are promised for tomorrow."

     "How long will you be here?" I asked.

     "Ten days or so but I need a good uniform and evening clothes as I
must make my obeisance to the local dignitaries at Stamford and
Peterborough.  If I don't then the local militias will have their noses out
of joint and they won't join in with our training at Easter.  There are
letters of introduction to Lord This and Sheriff Other, plus Mayors and
Esquires who must be cosseted and cozened to get their cooperation."  He
was quiet for a moment as we reached the top of the stairs.  "My, hasn't
Robin grown since I saw him last.  You and he are so much alike."  He took
my arm.  "I must make amends for any feelings of abandonment he may have.
I must admit I have been a poor father with lack of diligence and I feel
there is a gulf to be bridged.  I pray you will help.  Please."

     It was such a heartfelt plea I turned and hugged my brother.  "I do
not think Robin feels he has been rejected or abandoned.  He has been happy
in the Goodhew family and I have been a friend and companion since we were
both small.  He has a strong character and that has been nurtured by Steven
Goodhew.  He is loved by his young brothers and he is the kindest brother
to them."

     I was hugged back in turn.  "Sweet Tom, I feel I have neglected you,
too.  I have been away too long.  Terence has said how much he enjoyed that
enforced stay here last year.  He said you lightened his days and Robin was
with you all the time and he could see your great friendship."

     "I haven't felt neglected.  Mother always read to us your letters to
her and we knew of the questions you asked about what was happening in the
village and the comments you made when you heard I was for Ashbourne."

     He laughed.  "That place!  I learned little enough there and that
fiend Pullen used my arse to try out any new switch he had cut.  I still
feel the sting when I think of the mad things Jemmy Fitzhugh and I did..."

     "...Like cutting off Mr Pullen's moustache?" I asked, interrupting
him.

     He gave a snort of laughter.  "Only half his moustache.  He was as
drunk as a fiddler's bitch but started to stir and we had to run for it.
We were unlucky as I had used Copeland's razor and Pullen knew he was too
pi to do such a thing.  As usual I got the blame and a good half-dozen more
stripes.  It was a good jape, though, and made all the fellows laugh."

     He gave another laugh but I heard no more as we were joined by Jackson
and Benjy.  Jackson said he would act as Torquil's valet as Mr Clements was
looking after Geoffrey Lascelles and my father was being left to fend for
himself until he had had his sleep.

     Benjy opened my door for me and I was greeted by a good blazing fire
but things had been moved around.  My oaken clothes closet had been shifted
away from the panelled wall and my bath had been moved to the other side of
the fire place.  I took up a candle to look as some of the panels had been
removed from the side towards the wall where a window was situated some six
or seven feet in. There was brickwork on show which looked quite old but
appeared sound.  I noted there were chalk marks low down on the bare wall.
All this must be some preparation for my jakes and fitted bath.

     "Mr Goodhew has taken many measurements," Benjy said as he pointed to
the bare walls. "He has found there are places under the floor where pipes
can run and some of the boards have been removed in the room next door.  He
will bide by young Philip's suggestion to have the new rooms back to back
as this will reduce expense for the pipes but it will mean removing bricks
and repairing these inside walls.  You cannot see now as it is too dark but
there are ropes laid outside where the trenches are to be dug.  My father
expects to carry many pipes soon which have been ordered from some
manufactory in the mid country where there is also a good canal to bring
them a good way down."

     "So Philip is employed, too?"

     Benjy laughed.  "That boy is here, there and everywhere.  He has had
Eamonn and the twins holding measuring rods and has also marked out
dimensions in most of the bedrooms.  He says he will wait until your mother
is home before he deals with her rooms as there are too many things to move
without permission.  You must talk to him as there are some strange
measures in two of the rooms and your uncle is looking for more old
drawings."

     "That I will do, it looks most exciting but I must hurry now to wash
and be clean and tidy for dinner tonight."

     No sooner said but done as Eamonn and the twins, all in neat plain
grey livery, staggered in with large pitchers of hot water.  I grinned at
them and they each said they were glad I was back safe and sound from that
strange place London.  They couldn't stay to gossip as they had to get more
hot water for Mr Torquil and my father.  When they had departed and Benjy
had poured the water for me he said Mr Clements had been teaching them how
to be good footmen and they were eager learners as a position here was
prized.

     I stripped off my riding clothes and noted I had red patches on the
inside of my thighs where my new saddle had chafed me through the leather
on my britches though I was not too sore.  Benjy was rather rude and said I
walked like an old hen about to lay a large egg and that my backside was
also red.  I said if he had ridden that distance he would be red as well
and might be redder if he didn't pay attention to my bath.  I was glad of
that hot water and the sweet smell of my sister's soap from the small piece
which still remained.

     Robin came into the room while I was lying quite contentedly letting
the hot water ease any aches in my limbs having scrubbed any dirt away with
my washcloth.  He and Benjy giggled together and made comments about the
piglet in it's bath of salted water ready to be made into good fat bacon.
I said the piglet would give them both a sound battering when it was out of
it's marinade and told them of the exchange between the two men at the inn
over the fat girl who had just married.  Robin laughed some more but
eventually came and knelt by the bath to put an arm round my neck and kiss
me so tenderly, full on the lips.  "You're home and I have been waiting to
do this since you went away," he whispered.

     Benjy came and stood by his side and held up a good thick towel.  "I
would kiss you as well, but come and dry yourself."  Robin helped me up.
As I stepped out, still dripping water, he kissed me again, this time on
the cheek.  The pair of them enveloped me in the folds of the towel and
rubbed away at all parts of me vying for whose hands should make sure my
pizzle and balls were dried.  Of course, my unruly stalk responded as it
always did to any touch.

     Benjy sneered as the towel was taken away from me.  "I don't think the
little fellow has grown while he's been away. It still looks like a stump
of candle smaller than those bits Mr Clements throws away as useless."

     Being unclothed I had an advantage.  I grabbed Benjy and he began to
hoot as I tried to pummel him and get him to the bed where I could hold him
down and give him due punishment of a good tickling.  "Robin, Robin, help
me, the young master has lost his wits and is beating an innocent servant!"

     I managed to quieten those shouts but set off squeals as I found his
ticklish ribs.  I looked down at him as I held him over the edge of the bed
and he was made silent as I set my open mouth over his.  I stopped my
tickling and we kissed as well.  I felt such friendship, too, for that lad.
Robin came over full of laughter.  "Come, let him up or Mr Clements will
beat him with the gong stick for being untidy."  He bent over Benjy and
gave him a kiss on the cheek as well.  He looked at me.  "Benjy has told me
how he has been your warming-pan.  That is my task from now unless you feel
so frozen you need to be warmed by two."

     I let Benjy go.  He stood to straighten his jacket and looked at
Robin.  "I think this night you will be sufficient, Master Robin, but I
volunteer for duty when needed."

     I clasped his arm.  "Benjy, I will miss you again when I go with Robin
to school.  You must keep Eamonn warm and happy.  He appears to be a good
lad and you could be a friend to him."

     He smiled.  "I think we are friends.  I have been a good warming-pan
for him and him for me.  He wants to stay and I think Mr Clements will
recommend that so we will be together as good and faithful servants."

     Robin grinned at him.  "You and those twins will keep Mrs Gray busy
preparing even more food as you vie with each other to see who has the
biggest appetite."

     Benjy held up a hand.  "I am not guilty of that.  I have taken your
advice and I eat less than half of whatever those two pile on their
plates."

     "Well, see you keep to that while we are away or there might be
another fat porker ready to be salted when we return."

     While that exchange was proceeding I had found clean drawers in my
closet.  The second suit Mr Corsham had made for me was laid out ready.
When I was half-dressed Benjy came to help me finish.  My hair was still
damp but he combed and brushed it and he said it would be perfect when
fully dry.  While he was engaged on this task I kept up a recital of
various things which had happened on my stay in London including the
SoirＦ and the fine food served.  Benjy laughed at this and said he had
better go as he would be helping to serve at table as well tonight but
could not guarantee such lavishness would be on offer.

     As we had time before we had to descend to the dining-room I told
Robin some more of my time in London but did not say what Jabez had found
out about Black Jack.  Those happenings would be related later.  I said I
had some forty or so books to share with him but then I told him of the
greater sharing.  He was amazed I had spotted that line on the map and
gained so much money.  I said that I had told Uncle Digby he would be
getting a half share.

     Robin shook his head.  "That is your money and properly earned.  You
must keep it for your own use.  I have had so many kindnesses so far and
even now I have received gifts which I have not expected.  Old man Peters
stopped his carriage on Friday and called me over.  He gave me five gold
sovereigns and wished me well.  I was so overcome I could hardly thank him.
I did not believe he would recognise me but my mother said she had worked
in his household as a very young girl and he was quite a kindly man but
missed his wife who died young.  He is not the only one.  The Squire has
sent a purse as well and I have to visit to say my thanks.  We have a
command from Miss Barnes to attend on her on Monday and to take Timmy with
us.  I feel quite bewildered at all the generosity I have been shown and
yours would be too much."

     "For you, my dear Robin, nothing would be too much.  We have much to
share in any case and I will keep that money safe for things we will need."
I laughed. "I do have presents for you and your brothers and there are
things for you which my Aunt Fanny will be sending in a box with the
carrier."  I told him about being fitted for my evening suit and also being
taken to the emporium for other clothes and also for footwear.  "You will
find you have the same as me."

     He was shaking his head almost in disbelief but I said it had all been
planned for him to join me at Ashbourne and we had made it happen through
George's ruse.  I told him then what Uncle Digby had said about observing
the little things.

     "But not to jump to quick conclusions," Robin cautioned.

     I agreed.  However, I didn't tell him about Curly.  He would be
apprised of that tale before he visited Charles Street and I would see if
the hair powder was disturbed!
     I asked him how he had spent his time while I was away.  He smiled.
"I have spent many hours with your Uncle.  We have read through almost all
the third book of the Aeneid which is most enlightening about the journeys
of Aeneas after the destruction of Troy.  Although I can construe I find
what is being said and described quite difficult.  Your Uncle says that
understanding will come in time as their way of living was so different
from ours."

     I thought the same about many of the things I had read but told Robin
that Mr Martin always talked about the customs of the time and had maps
which showed where the various places were.

     He nodded.  "I was lost when I translated a passage about the building
of the ships sub ipsa Antandro.  I did not know where that and the Phrygian
mountains were.  Your Uncle had a map which made it clear, especially when
the ships sailed and made their way across to an island and then on past
Naxos and other towns on the shore.  Anyway, he has also spent time with me
on my Greek and says I must work at it with you.  We have made lists of
verbs with their tenses and he has tested me on some more vocabulary."

     "I hope you will be placed with Mr Martin as we will be able to work
together both in class and after.  Do not worry, I find some of the Greek
most difficult."

     "Some!" he said with a snort, "It has so many rules I wonder how those
old Greeks learned to speak it?"

     I said all we could do was to work at our exercises as best we can and
hope we do not make too many errors.

     We passed to other things.  He said that Liam had settled in well.  He
was a match for young Philip but his greatest achievement had happened on
his first day in the barn where Robin's foster-father, Steven Goodhew, was
about to draw out the design for one of the memorials for Stinsted Church.
As Steven lined up the curve in which the first words were to be placed
Liam pointed to the old rector's paper and noted that the first word in
REQUIESCAT IN PACE was missing the essential 'I'.  Steven said Liam had
earned his first quarter's wages by noting that as he was so used to just
having to carve R.I.P he might have missed it and he would have been
derided as no scholar, but a mere carver.

     Messages back from Mr Grindcobbe's premises in Stamford from Niall
said he was happy, though his right hand ached with all the writing.  Robin
grinned when he told me this as we both knew that stiffness in one's arm
could follow the relief of stiffness elsewhere.

     It was then we heard the sound of the gong.  Dinner had been announced
and our stomachs were ready for more food.  We smiled at each other as we
reached the dining room door.  I said I wondered what the conversation
would be with no ladies present.  But there was one.  My Uncle Dodd was
there with Aunt Matty.  Father was awake and refreshed and was in earnest
conversation with his sister.  We were followed in by Lancelot and Geoffrey
Lascelles.  Geoffrey was greeted most affably and had already met my Uncle
and Aunt as he had been to church that morning.  Places were arranged and
as we sat so a great tureen of hot game soup was carried in by Benjy and
Timmy and ladled onto our plates by Jackson.  There was no conversation as
the tasty mixture was spooned in and the last remains mopped up with a
piece of warm bread.
     The first main course was a fine roast capon stuffed with nuts and
served with thin sliced potatoes braised in its fat.  Mr Clements had
brought in bottles of a mellow claret which must have been quite a treat
for Robin as I knew good ale was the preferred accompaniment to meat in the
Goodhew household.  The second course was slices from a leg of pork with
preserved beans and boiled parsnips, of which I was not particularly fond.
The dessert made up for my dislike of strange roots as it was my favourite
syllabub with thin biscuits flavoured with almond.  I watched as Geoffrey
nodded when asked if he wished for more.  I was deprived as he and Torquil
finished the dish between them!  I did have a glass of a sweet wine which
Uncle Dodd said came from his College cellars and had been maturing in his
cellar for at least five years.  My Aunt Matty remarked it was only because
he had forgotten it was there.

     No one retired from the table after the dishes were cleared.  Other
than Robin and myself the men took pipes and filled them with a tobacco my
father said he had brought back from London in his saddle-bag and was a
present to him from my Uncle Digby.  He said it was a very expensive
mixture and he was glad young whippersnappers like us hadn't learned to
smoke.  The scent was most aromatic as the smoke curled around our heads.
I said at least the aroma was better than the sooty smoke of London and
told of the Duchess's requests for small cigars to counteract the stink of
the burnt coal and other things.  I was careful and did not say 'stink', or
it's other cause, 'horseshit', in front of my Aunt.  I managed to say
'noxious odours' which satisfied my sensibilities but got a snort from my
father.  The little story did get a laugh and Torquil said the Duchess was
a very fine lady.  He then let a bit of a secret surface.  He said that the
ring he had given to Elizabeth Branscombe when he asked her to marry him
was a gift from the Duchess.  She had said it had been in her family for
many years but she had no one else to pass it on to other than one nephew
who was still unmarried at quite an age.  Her own sons and daughters had
been furnished with other family heirlooms and wanted for nothing.

     Aunt Matty was about to say something but I saw my father shake his
head.  I wondered if it might be a question, or something, about the
Duchess's nephew.  The conversation changed to more local things.  Mrs
Matthews, the Squire's wife, had fallen and broken a wrist which Lancelot
had made immobile with a splint and bandage.

     "The poor lady is rather ancient and healing will be slow," Lancelot
pronounced, as he sipped at his glass of the good sweet wine.  "It is a
blessing that she did not break her hip or leg like the old woman who was
in the Almshouses last year.  I found there was little I could do for her
and it was a mercy she did not last long."

     "Lancelot, please!" his mother said and wagged a finger at him, "We do
not want a recital of your patients and their ailments tonight.  I haven't
forgotten last night's dinner where our main dish of roast pheasant was
accompanied by you telling of those three children with ringworm, that
groom with a broken nose from brawling and the woman with the diseased leg
you were watching in case it turned green."  She snorted.  "There, I have
done the same as you.  Forgive me everyone, but it is difficult for one to
live with Greek being quoted on one side and foul disorders being described
on the other."

     Robin, sitting opposite me, had been silent so far.  Very quietly he
said "de gustibus non est disputandum."  There was a double guffaw, one
from my Uncle Dodd and the other from my father.  Lancelot laughed, I
giggled and my Aunt Matty glared, then dissolved into laughter. Torquil and
Geoffrey sat and simply stared at the rest of us.

     "At least that was in Latin which I always consider to be a most
respectable language," my aunt said.

     "Not always, my dear," Uncle Dodd said to her from the other end of
the table, "There are many utterances conveniently hidden by that ancient
tongue which spare blushes and conceal truths."

     "And was that one of them?" asked Torquil, "I have forgotten what
little I learned of that language.  I am sorry, Uncle, as you spent much
time trying to cudgel what brain I have and poor Mr Hollister did the same
at Ashbourne, though that was accompanied with the switch rather than the
invisible cudgel."

     Uncle, sitting next to Robin, held his glass up.  "A toast to our new
Latin scholar.  Tell your father what you said."

     Robin looked at Torquil with a straight face.  "I commented that there
is no accounting for tastes.  We say more emphatically 'one man's meat is
another man's poison' but I think the Latin is gentler."

     Torquil was shaking his head.  "Dear Robin, you show up your father's
ignorance but I accept that willingly.  I drink to your health.  Another
glass, Mr Clements, if you please!"

     There was a general toast to a now blushing Robin.  My father looked
at me.

     "And what do you have to say?"

     "'Silence is Golden'" came out on the spur of the moment.

     "Hunnh!  That is not your usual stance."  He turned to his sister.
"Matty, that young whelp was not silent in Digby's presence.  His tongue
turned a line on a map into good golden guineas at my expense.  Nay, I will
say he took good opportunity and there may be more of interest for the
future so he is forgiven.  I must see Grindcobbe at his first convenience."
He looked at Uncle Dodd. "You know of Witham?  There is some land there on
offer.  Digby Wright and that railway company of his have an agreement on
it but would be glad to rid themselves on payment of a reasonable sum.
Grindcobbe will know what reasonable is if he is to earn his fee."

     I could see that Uncle Dodd was immediately interested though it was
not in the price but the history.

     "If that is around South Witham then that was Templar land.  You will
know of the buildings which were there and lie ruined mostly underground.
I have heard of tunnels, too.  You must have explored there in your youth?"

     Father was nodding.  "I have seen the ruins many times and hunted
there often.  It is strange land especially near the river.  There is a
good inn there called the Angel which old Reverend Percival said was from
olden times."
     "That is true," Uncle Dodd said, "You have been to the Angel in
Grantham?"  Father nodded.  "That is on a pilgrim route and was a Templar
inn.  There is much evidence of the Templars and their houses between here
and Lincoln."

     "Who are these Templars?" asked Torquil.  "I think I have heard of
them. Were they knights?"

     "That is true," said Uncle Dodd, "Their history goes back to being the
knights who protected Jerusalem after it was taken from the Moors. They
defended the pilgrims on their journeys to that city."

     "When was this?" asked Robin as Uncle Dodd paused to draw on his
churchwarden pipe.

     "It was around eleven hundred when Jerusalem was captured," he said.
"They were crusading knights and were like you, Torquil, sons of the higher
classes who became soldiers.  They were soldiers of Christ rather than of
Her Majesty, though I do not belittle you for that, nor begrudge the Queen
for employing your services."  He took another puff, clearly enjoying his
pipe and the tale he was telling.  "They became very powerful and spread
all over Europe and this country building castles and great houses.  They
were also traders but mostly famous for their money dealings and their
reputation for honesty.  In those days their documents of exchange were
like our letters of credit today."  I saw my father nodding at that.  His
major transactions were settled by paper so all that about seeing if his
bank had his gold was his story.  Uncle Dodd held his pipe up. "Legend has
it they amassed a great fortune which disappeared when they were
suppressed," he said before settling it in his mouth again.

     "Suppressed?  Do they not exist any longer?" asked Torquil.

     "I would surmise they became too powerful for some of the rulers of
places where they not only guarded but traded.  If I remember correctly it
was a king of France who saw his opportunity to lay hands on at least some
of their wealth.  He had all the Templar knights in France arrested and
most were burnt at the stake for so-called heresy but although there were
strongholds and other property no one found the gold which he had hoped
for."

     "When was this?" I asked.

     "In the early thirteen hundreds," Uncle Dodd said.  "It is a time
since I read an account but I think that although the Pope of the time
dissolved the Order of Knights Templar some still remained in various of
their houses outside France.  I suppose they could have remained in England
in places such as Witham save taking any new knights."  He reached for a
taper which he put to a candle as his pipe was out.  We waited until he had
relit and was contentedly puffing the aromatic smoke out in thin coils.  "I
have visited the Temple Church in London.  You know of that?" he asked
Torquil.

     "I have heard of it but not visited it," said Torquil.  "That has
reminded me.  One of our officers goes there regularly and his family name
is Temple.  He has said his ancestors were buried there."

     "Perhaps there is a connection with those ancient knights," said Uncle
Dodd, "You could enquire further as it intrigues me."  He looked at father
who looked even more contented with a large glass of that sweet wine before
him and even more smoke being breathed out. "Sam, you must have that land
and we will explore!  As I said there has been no sign of that wealth which
was said to be theirs.  You might get your guineas back!"

     "Hunnh!  The only person who will get guineas is Grindcobbe and the
profligate family who has lived there.  But I hear I have customers today
for my stock I wish to discard as useless other than for the knacker's
yard."

     Poor Geoffrey looked askance as the rest of us laughed.  Father was
being father.  Lancelot came to his rescue.

     "My uncle disconcerts us often, though he knows that if he upsets me
then the next time he complains of some ailment I might be tempted to dose
him with a good purging draught."

     "Will you teach me that mixture?" I asked.

     Father shook his pipe at me.  "And I will get two of the grooms to
hold you and pour it down your throat and see if the concoction works."

     "With Lancelot's expertise no doubt it would, so that would be a
waste," I riposted.

     Father harumphed again.  "Boy, if I had a guinea each time your tongue
wagged at me these last weeks I wager I could buy that land twice over."

     "But, father, you have customers who want good stock, which they know
you have, so guineas from those transactions should allow you to take up
the option you have on that land," I said and took up my own glass.

     "So you and your brothers might hunt for buried treasure that no more
exists than my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, eh?"

     Uncle Dodd waved his pipe at my father.  "Do not forget me!  I will be
a willing helper in any enterprise of that sort."

     "Alfred, you are welcome to dig about but do not complain if you fall
down any holes and especially if you find nothing."

     "But I know the church there and it has many features which hark back
to ancient times."

     "But they must have been Catholic in those days," I said, "What was
the heresy you talked about?"  I knew from conversations with Uncle Dodd
that there had been numerous disputes over beliefs in the early church and
even when our Church of England had been set up by Henry the Eighth.  We
had our own Puritans in the village if Zeb and his father were examples.

     "I think there were various lies dreamed up and used against them,"
Uncle Dodd said solemnly and I thought he was evading a straight answer.
"It was easy in those days to accuse people of false beliefs."

     The others seemed satisfied by that answer but Robin looked over at me
and creased his brows.  Both of us would have to question Uncle Dodd
further.

     Our talk then turned to other things.  Aunt Matty said there had been
two more fires, not too dangerous, but people were getting careless.  I
nodded at Robin.  We would get plans for the construction of a water pump
like the one at Ashbourne.  She also said there was more trouble with the
inn between our village and Bytham.  That was where the groom had received
the blow which broke his nose.  Father pricked up his ears.  Luckily, the
groom was one of the Squire's.  It was rumoured there was gambling there
which had got out of hand and a fight had ensued.  Two other fellows
supposedly involved had disappeared by the time the local constable had
arrived but no one would say what had happened.  My father said that there
was a nest of troublemakers in that village and he wasn't surprised at
those events.  Our grooms and labourers were forbidden to frequent the
Barley Mow or the one further on as both were notorious for gaming and poor
ale.

     Uncle Dodd said at least Flaxman at the Varley Arms had a good
brewhouse and kept an eye on the younger men who drank there.  I knew that
father would not countenance drunkenness among his workers.  Riders or
grooms taken in drink could easily maim or injure valuable horses.  I knew
of two bricklayers and a carpenter who had fallen from ladders after being
at one of the neighbouring inns during their lunch time.  Of course most of
the men did drink but there was always the threat overhanging them of the
consequences of over-indulgence.  Constable Rogers was a good example.  His
drinking was so noticeable that it would not be long before he was deprived
of that position unless he abstained or moved.  I grinned to myself
thinking of young Lem..., I mean Luke Emmanuel.  Also had Bessie Phillips
produced her offspring?

     Time was passing rapidly and I was feeling quite tired after that long
ride and the good dinner.  Aunt Matty looked at her husband and Uncle Dodd
said it was time to go.  He hoped he would see Geoffrey again before his
departure for London.  We all stood as Mr Clements announced their carriage
was at the door.  We both got a hug from Aunt Matty as Robin and I followed
them to say goodnight before we were going to my bed.

     The other gentlemen were still sitting, drinking, smoking and chatting
as we bade them goodnight.  Benjy led the way with the sconce as we climbed
the stairs.  All was warm and snug as he left us to deal with our bedtime
routine.  I said I missed the jakes but, pointing to the bare wall, said I
hoped all would be installed by the time we returned at Easter.

     "The next thing may be gas lamps," suggested Robin.

     I said that was unlikely for a long time.  I told him I had asked
Uncle Digby but he had said that a gas works to heat the coal to produce
the gas would be very costly and would only be possible for a town of
several thousand people rather than a village.  Robin said that Philip
would no doubt make drawings of how it might be done as both had heard the
same explanation on their visit to London and it tallied with what Uncle
Digby had told me.  And at some time...

     As we undressed I told Robin about the elaborate uniforms that the
Hussar officers wore and Uncle Digby's assertion that they were hung like
lampshades.  I said if he was the true son of Torquil and I was Torquil's
brother perhaps we might be hung like him in another way.  I said I had had
ample opportunity to see his possessions as on undressing at the first inn
he had to find a nightshirt in his saddlebag and was displaying himself
completely while he did so.

     "He might not quite compare with dear Jabez," I said holding my
fingers near five inches apart, "But he hangs like this and we should be
his equal by the time we are full- grown."

     "You did not see him hard?" asked my cheeky nephew with a grin.

     "No, but he covered himself quickly in the morning when he got out of
bed," I said, also with a grin, "Perhaps he did not want his little brother
to see it had not hardened to be much more."

     "Like this?"  Robin stood naked and his pizzle was a hard shaft as was
mine.

     We fell onto the bed and did not settle until all our longings over
the past week or so were satisfied three times over with caresses, kisses
and that joyful release which each delighted in with murmured assertions of
our deep and undying love for each other.

To be continued: