All expression died out of his face, but he spoke to his young courtier, who fluttered forward sniggering with amusement.
"His Highness would like to know if his Excellency is interested in a Road.

His Highness thinks it a damn-fool road.

His Highness much regrets that he cannot even let it go beyond Kohara.

His Highness wishes his Excellency good-morning." Linforth made no answer to the gibe.

He passed out into the courtyard, and from the courtyard through the archway into the grain-market.
Opposite to him at the end of the street, a grass hill, with the chalk showing at one bare spot on the side of it, ridged up against the sky curiously like a fragment of the Sussex Downs.