His passengers paused in their descent from the top to look over the heads of those who were on the ground.
"Drunk, surely," said one of these to another; "that proclamation was not unnecessary." "Some poor straggler, sir; picked him up insensible and fetched him along," said one of the ostlers.
Ralph walked past the group to the threshold of the inn.
"Loosen his neckcloth!--here, take my brandy," said a passenger.
"Came from the North, seemingly, sir.

Looks weak from want and a long journey." "From the North ?" asked the coachman; "I'll give him a seat in the coach to-night and take him home." Ralph stepped back and looked over some of the people.
A man was lying on the ground, his head in a woman's lap.
It was Simeon Stagg..