Black Bartlemy's Treasure by Jeffery Farnol

Evening was at hand as I reached a little alehouse well away from the road and pleasantly secluded by trees: thither came I, fondling Penfeather's money in my pocket, for I was again mightily sharp set. But all at once I stopped, for, passing the open lattice, I heard loud laughter and a merry voice:

"And there, believe me, gossips" (quoth this voice), "as sure as this be beef -- aye, and good beef and cooked to a turn, mistress -- there's this great, lob-lolly, hectoring Tom Button fast i' the pillory -- and by this good ale, a woeful sight, his eyes blacked, his nose a-bleeding, his jerkin torn and a dead cat about his neck, oho -- aha! Tom Button -- big Tom, fighting Tom so loud o' tongue and ready o' fist -- Tom as have cowed so many -- there is he fast by the neck and a-groaning, see ye, gossips, loud enough for six, wish I may die else! And the best o' the joke is -- the key be gone, as I'm a sinner! So they needs must break the lock to get him out. Big Tom, as have thrashed every man for miles. " But here merry voice and laughter ceased and a buxom woman thrust smiling face from the window, and face (like her voice) was kindly when she addressed me: