human
Well, friend?
gpt
Your business here?
human
To sell cloth. I come from Oxford, and have done much business there with the Court.
gpt
Then why come selling wares in Banbury? Court fashions find no favour here.
human
Cloth is cloth, said Blake impassively,
gpt
How much the yard?
human
I have no samples. The cloth itself will come in by carrier to-morrow. I’m tired and hungry, he said, smiling at the man who held his rein.
gpt
Perhaps you will direct me to a lodging for the night?
human
Was there great stir among the sons of Belial in Oxford?
gpt
They were like bees in a busy hive,
human
You learned something, maybe, of their plans?
gpt
I did, friend.
human
That might be worth free lodging to you for the night, and a supper of the best. What did you learn?
gpt
Why, that they planned to buy a good deal of my cloth. That’s how I measure a man—with the eye of a merchant who has cloth to sell. You, sir—your clothes are of the shabbiest, if you’ll pardon my frankness. Will you not come to the tavern to-morrow, after the carrier has brought my bales, and let me show you some good broadcloth—cloth of a sober colour, suited to the pious habits you profess? To-day I clothe a Cavalier, to-morrow a gentleman who fights on the Parliament side—a merchant knows no niceties of party.