the hour of two
Sir Marmaduke drew the mare in , so as to keep pace with his men . On the whole , the road had been more lonely than he liked and he was glad of company . Outside the Lamberts ' cottage a small crowd had collected . From the crest of the hill the tiny bell of Acol church struck the hour of two . Squire Boatfield had ridden over from Sarre , and Sir Marmaduke -- as he dismounted -- caught sight of the heels and crupper of the squire 's well-known cob . The little crowd had gathered in the immediate neighborhood of the forge , and de Chavasse , from where he now stood , could not see the entrance of the lean-to , only the blank side wall of the shed , and the front of the Lamberts ' cottage , the doors and windows of which were hermetically closed . Up against the angle formed by the wall of the forge and that of the cottage , the enterprising landlord of the local inn had erected a small trestle table , from behind which he was dispensing spiced ale , and bottled Spanish wines .