noon
He was a powerful , well-made man , of apparently about one or two and twenty , remarkably handsome in person , dressed richly , but not gaudily , in the cavalier fashion , and wore a hat with a feather . As they proceeded , they entered into conversation on indifferent matters for some time , neither party attempting by any question to discover who his companion might be . Edward had more than once , when the conversation flagged for a minute , considered what reply he should give in case his companion should ask him the cause of his journey , and at last had made up his mind what to say . A little before noon they pulled up to bait their horses at a small village , -- the stranger observing that he avoided Saint Alban 's , and all other large towns , as he did not wish to satisfy the curiosity of people , or to have his motions watched ; and therefore , if Edward had no objection , he knew the country so well that he could save time by allowing him to direct their path . Edward was , as may be supposed , very agreeable to this , and during their whole journey they never entered a town , except they rode through it after dark ; and put up at humble inns on the roadside , where , if not quite so well attended to , at all events they were free from observation . It was , however , impossible that this reserve could continue long , as they became more and more intimate every day . At last the stranger said -- `` Master Armitage , we have travelled together for some time , interchanging thoughts and feelings , but with due reserve as respects ourselves and our own plans .