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and so had the green imitation crocodile-skin purse at ninepence-halfpenny which had been bought at the
same time. They tried several more shops, the kinds where you buy toys and scent, and silk
handkerchiefs and books, and fancy boxes of stationery, and photographs of objects of interest in the
vicinity. But nobody cared to change a guinea that day in Rochester, and as they went from shop to shop
they got dirtier and dirtier, and their hair got more and more untidy, and Jane slipped and fell down on a
part of the road where a water-cart had just gone by. Also they got very hungry, but they found no one
would give them anything to eat for their guineas. After trying two pastrycooks in vain, they became so
hungry, perhaps from the smell of the cake in the shops, as Cyril suggested, that they formed a plan of
campaign in whispers and carried it out in desperation. They marched into a third pastrycook's-Beale his
name was-and before the people behind the counter could interfere each child had seized three new
penny buns, clapped the three together between its dirty hands, and taken a big bite out of the triple
sandwich. Then they stood at bay, with the twelve buns in their hands and their mouths very full indeed.
The shocked pastrycook bounded round the corner.
'Here, said Cyril, speaking as distinctly as he could, and holding out the guinea he got ready before
entering the shop, pay yourself out of that.'
Mr Beale snatched the coin, bit it, and put it in his pocket.
'Off you go, he said, brief and stern like the man in the song.
'But the change? said Anthea, who had a saving mind.
'Change! said the man. I'll change you! Hout you goes; and you may think yourselves lucky I don't send
for the police to find out where you got it!'
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. The boys would have given up the idea, but Jane was always a hopeful child, and Anthea
generally an obstinate one, and their earnestness prevailed.
The whole party, by this time indescribably dirty, therefore betook itself to the Saracen's Head. The
yard-method of attack having been successful at The Chequers was tried again here. 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. He was a long lean man, with very blue eyes and a
tight mouth and narrow lips.
'We should like to buy some, please, said Robert politely.
'I daresay you would.'
'Will you show us a few, please? To choose from. Who are you a-kiddin of? inquired Mr Billy
Peasemarsh. Was you sent here of a message?'
'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?'
'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. And ain't got tuppence in his pocket to bless hisself with, I'll go bail!'
Willum's eyes followed his master's pointing thumb with contemptuous interest.
'Do e, for sure? he said.
But Robert spoke, though both the girls were now pulling at his jacket and begging him to come along'.
He spoke, and he was very angry; he said:
'I'm not a young duke, and I never pretended to be. 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.
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 of your 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.
'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:
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