Tinkle, tinkle, the sound of two insignificant coins jingled in the raggedy man’s cup. Limping around the tavern’s tables, he looked from face to face. A pair of fine ladies in embroidered cloaks avoided his gaze. Scowling, the tailor at the table nearest the window secreted his pocketwatch in a hidden inner pocket with one hand and shooed the beggar away with the other. The tailor’s apprendice pressed a roll into the beggar’s hand when his master wasn’t looking. Quick as a flash, the roll disappeared into the ragged coat.

A large table of garrison soldiers were making merry with strong spirits and the flirty barmaid. The beggar gave the raucous table a wide berth. From the sweet perfume of cinnamon, the beggar could tell the next table held spice merchants from far off lands. With dirty hands raised, the raggedy man begged to them in silent gesture.

Clad in a well cut suit to minimize his generous belly, a banker from the table closest to the hearth hurled a string of inventices at the poor man. The ladies looked scandalized. Reading the room, the raggedy man made for the exit. With a fragrant toss, one of the spice merchants tossed him a golden coin. His legs much improved, the poor man hurried into the night. He nearly collided with a older woman in the shadows.

“Just one beggar teling another beggar where to find bread. The Rose and the Crown is cold comfort; better to beg by the merchantile or the Green Man where the locals gather. I fear rich men’s purses are tight sure enough,” the woman said.

“Thank you kind sister. May you be rewarded in this life and the next,” the raggedy man said handing her the roll and the coins. “If full purses are tight that is good but I am in the business of lighten loads and loosening purse strings.”

Twirling out of his tattered cape, the beggar bundled it neatly beneath his arm. Young and well-formed, the transformed poor man was dressed head to toe in dark clothes. A stallion whinnied in the night. Gasping in surprise, the older woman watched the raggedy man stride up the road whistling