Although Nelly could not write
her own name, she was excellent at putting two and two together, and on
this occasion quickly reached the conclusion that there was a man whom
Frances had good reason to hate, but loved.
Without suspecting that Roger Wentworth's death bore any relation to
Frances's trouble, Nelly soon began asking questions about the tragedy,
and learned that Frances had recognized one of the highwaymen. When
Frances refused in a marked and emphatic manner to describe the man
she had seen, or to speak of him beyond the first mention, Nelly began
again with her two-and-two problem, and, as the result of her second
calculation, reached the conclusion that the highwayman Frances had
recognized and the man she loved and hated were one and the same person.
However, Nelly had the good taste to keep the result of her calculations
to herself, and dropped the subject which seemed so distasteful to her
companion.
When Frances and Nelly reached the landing at the water stairs just above
the Bridge, they left their barge and walked up Gracious Street (called
by some Grace Church Street, though, in fact, it should be Grass Church
Street) to the Old Swan Tavern on the east side of the street, a little
above Eastcheap.
The Old Swan was a picturesque structure, beautiful in its quaintness,
sweet in its cleanliness, and lovable in its ancient air of hospitality.
Its token, a full-grown swan, was the best piece of sign painting in
London.
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