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"Why, yes!" Bingo cried, a delighted smile breaking over his features as he stood. "Do come with me, Miss Twylight, and I will introduce you to Marcho and Posco." She stood and followed him to the fireplace. Bingo first took Marcho's hand, helping him to his feet and presenting him before Twylight. "Marcho, this is Twylight, who has been very kind to me in helping with the poor drunk man," he said.
Marcho felt himself slipping into a suspicious gaze as he bowed a little stiffly to the woman of the Big Folk. Kind indeed! Bingo's word was nothing. This woman could be as evil as the night itself and Bingo would still introduce her as kind. She had held out a scrap of parchment; he took it and read: Pleased to meet you, Marcho. What was this? Why couldn't she just speak? Maybe she couldn't. Maybe she was a mute. More than likely she could speak but she was just putting an act on to gain pity and sympathy.
"Posco, this is Twylight.... and Twylight, this is Blanco's twin brother, Posco Brandybuck."
She was doing the same thing to him: writing him a message. Posco was reading it and smiling shyly up at her. At least he was barbarically rude in all his shyness as Blanco was. The only way Blanco ever made any friends was if he was lucky enough to introduce himself to someone who didn't mind an overly-sociable hobbit lad. Posco could draw people around him because he was shy but still friendly. Bingo could attract anyone. Where did he find that woman, anyway? She was probably making friends with them to steal all their money. He was sure of it.
Marcho settled down into his chair again with a scowl. They would dine together, Bingo was saying, but they would leave Blanco to his new friends. Well, if they dined together he could find out just what this woman wanted with them. It was better to have Bingo close by as well, where he could protect him.
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