‘Ah, no! No, Mr Pepys.’ Bludworth raised his voice. ‘You know that the City is most mindful of its prerogatives. And the King’s Guards within the Mile? It speaks to them of tyranny.’
‘Tyranny, sir?’ Pepys’ voice was as sharp but far calmer. ‘The only tyrant this day is the fire.’
‘Indeed, indeed!’ The mayor wiped his face again. ‘And I thank the king. But the numbers he has sent so far will suffice. Why, as soon as this deuced wind drops –’ He broke off. ‘We will have it under control, have no fear, sir. Reassure His Majesty that I will tend to it in person just as soon,’ he swayed in his saddle, ‘as soon as I have had a little rest.’ His voice rose in complaint. ‘They woke me at three in the morning, damn it.’
With that, Bludworth flicked his reins and rode off, the other two horsemen
