About noon
When Polikey reached the first kabak -LRB- tavern -RRB- he found that from long habit the mare was naturally turning her head toward it ; but he would not allow her to stop , though money had been given him to purchase both food and drink . Striking the animal a sharp blow with the whip , he passed by the tavern . The performance was repeated when he reached the next kabak , which looked very inviting ; but he resolutely set his face against entering , and passed on . About noon he arrived at his destination , and getting down from the wagon approached the gate of the merchant 's house where the servants of the court always stopped . Opening it he led the mare through , and -LRB- after unharnessing her -RRB- fed her . This done , he next entered the house and had dinner with the merchant 's workingman , and to them he related what an important mission he had been sent on , making himself very amusing by the pompous air which he assumed . Dinner over , he carried a letter to the merchant which the noblewoman had given him to deliver .