Chapter One
Good evenin’ to ye, an’ well met! Welcome to the Tilby toll-bridge. Steady, now. Yer horses are havin’ a hard time seein’ through the fog, an’ when it’s dark t’ boot, well! Ye’ll want to go good an’ slowly through the town. Not that ye’ll meet any other folk on the road. Yer carriage is likely to be the only one sailin’ the streets o’ Tilby at this hour.
I’m Mister Balligumph, yer friendly toll collector. But don’t let that worry ye! Mayhap we’ve met before — I can’t altogether tell in the dark o’ night, yer face is a mite too hidden-like. But either way, the toll’s not steep. I’ll not be needin’ any coin from ye — what would a troll do wi’ English money? It’s a little bit of information I’m after. A bit about ye will suffice. What brings ye to our fine Tilby-town in the dept
