Both Sides the Border: A Tale of Hotspur and Glendower

by G. A. Henty

  Chapter 6: At Dunbar.

  The journey passed without any incident of importance, but Oswald hadreason to congratulate himself on having taken the monk with him. Onone occasion, as they were passing over a wild heath, a party of eightor ten men, on rough ponies, rode up. They were armed with spears andswords. They reined up with exclamations of disappointment as Roger,who had rolled up his robe round his waist, for convenience of walking,let it fall round him.

  "You have played us a scurvy trick, monk," the leader said, angrily."Who was to guess it was a monk, who was thus striding along?"

  "You would find it difficult to walk, yourself, with this robe danglingabout your heels," Roger said.

  "Whither are you bound, and whence are you going?"

  "We are travelling to Dunbar, being sent to the convent of Saint Magnusthere, and come from Roxburgh."

  "'Tis a shame that so stalwart a fellow as you are should be leading adrone's life, in a convent; when every true Scotsman is sharpening hisspear, in readiness for what may come when the truce with Englandexpires."

  "I am glad to hear that you are so well employed," Roger replied; "butmethinks that, in days like these, it is sometimes useful to have a fewmen of thews and sinews, even in a religious house; for there are thosewho sometimes fail in the respect they owe to the Church."

  "That is true enough," the men laughed. "Well, go thy way. There isnaught to be gained from a travelling monk."

  "Naught, good friend, save occasionally hard blows, when the monkhappens to be of my strength and stature, and carries a staff likethis."

  "'Tis a goodly weapon, in sooth, and you look as if you knew how towield it."

  "Even a monk may know that, seeing that a staff is not a carnalweapon."

  And rolling up his sleeves, Roger took the staff in the middle withboth hands, in the manner of a quarterstaff, and made it play round hishead; with a speed, and vigour, that showed that he was a completemaster of the exercise.

  "Enough, enough!" the man said, while exclamations of admiration brokefrom the others. "Truly from such a champion, strong enough to wield aweapon that resembles a weaver's beam, rather than a quarterstaff,there would be more hard knocks than silver to be gained; but it is allthe more pity that such skill and strength should be thrown away, in aconvent. Perhaps it is as well that you are wearing a monk's gown, formethinks that, eight to one as we are, some of us might have got brokenheads, before we gained the few pence in your pocket.

  "Come on, men. Better luck next time. It is clear that this man is notthe one we are charged to capture."

  And, with his followers, he rode off across the moor.

  "I do not think that they are what they seem," Oswald said, as theyresumed their journey. "The man's speech was not that of a borderraider, and his followers would hardly have sat their horses sosilently, and obeyed his orders so promptly, had they been merelythieving caterans; besides, you marked that he said you were not theman they were watching for."

  "Whom think you that they are, then, Master Oswald?"

  "I think it possible that they may be a party of Douglas's followers,led by a knight. It may be that Douglas has received some hint ofMarch's being in communication with England; and that he has sent aparty to seize, and search, any traveller who looked like a messengerfrom the south. Of course, this may be only fancy. Still, I am rightglad that you were wearing your monkish robe; for, had I been alone, Imight have been cross-questioned so shrewdly as to my purpose intravelling, that I might have been held on suspicion, and meansemployed to get the truth out of me."

  At the small town where they stopped, next night, they learned thatmany complaints had been made, by travellers from the south, of howthey had been stopped by a party of armed men on the border, closelyquestioned, and searched, and in some cases robbed. This had been goingon for some weeks, and the sheriff of the county had twice collected anarmed force, and ridden in search of the robbers, but altogetherwithout success. It was believed that they were strangers to thedistrict, and the description given of them had not agreed with thoseof any noted bad characters, in the neighbourhood.

  "Certainly, Master Oswald," the monk said, "all this seems to supportyour idea. Money and valuables are soon found; but by what these mensay of the way in which the clothes and belongings of these travellerswere searched, it would seem to show that money was not the object ofthe band, but rather the discovery of correspondence, and that moneywas only taken as a cloak."

  "I have no doubt that they were there to intercept someone, Roger,though it may not have been Percy's messengers; still, we are well ridof them, and I hope that we shall meet no more, on our way."

  The hope was fulfilled, and they reached Dunbar without furtherinterruption. Here they deemed it better to separate. The monk went toa convent, and gave out there that he was on the way to Edinburgh,being on a journey thither to see his aged father, who was in his lastsickness. Oswald went to a shop, and bought clothes suited for the sonof a trader in a fair position; and, changing his things at the innwhere he had put up, made his way to the castle.

  "I would have speech with the earl," he said, to the warder at thegate. "I have his orders to wait upon him."

  "What is your name and condition?"

  "That matters not. I am here by the earl's orders. He sent me a ring,by which it might be known that I am authorized to have access to him."

  On seeing the ring, the warder at once called to one of the servitors,and bade him conduct Oswald to the earl's apartment.

  "Whom shall I say?" he asked, when he reached the door.

  "Give this ring to him, and say that the bearer awaits admittance tohim."

  The man entered the room and then, opening the door again, motioned toOswald to enter. The earl, a tall and powerfully-built man, looked witha keen scrutiny at him.

  "From whom come you, young sir?"

  "From the holder of that ring, my Lord Earl," Oswald said, presentingthe ring that Percy had given him. "My name is Oswald Forster, and Ihave the honour to be one of Lord Percy's esquires."

  "Come you alone?" the earl asked.

  "I came with a companion, a monk. I was in the disguise of a youngservitor of his convent. We came on foot from Roxburgh."

  He then unscrewed the handle of a dagger Percy had given him, for thepurpose, and pulled out a small roll of paper, which he handed to theearl. It contained only the following words:

  "Do not intrust undue confidence in the bearer. The matters you wot ofare in good train; of them my messenger knows nothing."

  "This was so writ by Sir Henry Percy," said Oswald, "in order that, ifI were detained and searched on the way, and this paper found on me, Imight not be forced, by torture, to say aught of my message."

  "But this signet ring would have shown to whom you were coming."

  "It was concealed in my staff, my lord, and could not have beendiscovered, had not that been split open. Had it been so, I should haveadmitted that Lord Percy had indeed committed the signet and thewriting to me to carry, and had bid me travel as the servitor of a monkon his journey north; but that, more than that these were to bedelivered to you, I knew nothing. Lord Percy selected me as hismessenger partly because, from my youth, I should not be likely to besuspected of being a messenger between two great lords; and in thesecond place because, if arrested, and these matters found on me, thestatement in the letter would be readily believed. It would not besupposed that important state secrets would be committed to a lad, likemyself."

  The earl made no reply, for a time, but sat with his eyes fixed onOswald's face, as if he were reading him thoroughly.

  "Then you do know the matters in question?"

  "I do, my lord. I am the bearer of a further communication to you."

  "Say on, then."

  "Lord Percy bids me say that, on the receipt of your message to him, heforwarded it by one of his knights to the king at Westminster; and thatthe matter was discussed, by his majesty, with two or three of his mosttrusted councillors. After full cons
ideration, the king has acceptedyour offer, and will grant all its conditions. He sent, my lord, also adocument with his royal seal attached, engaging to observe all theconditions of the compact. This document Lord Percy holds, to be givento you on a convenient occasion; but he deemed it of so important anature that it would be too hazardous to send it to you. The king, in aletter to Lord Percy, begged him to tell you that, so long as the trucecontinued, he could not collect an army to support you; but that, asthe time for its termination approached, he would begin to do so, andwould be in readiness to take the field, in the north, immediately youmove in the matter."

  The earl sat for some time, in thought.

  "Do you know the conditions of the compact?" he asked, suddenly.

  Oswald had expected this question, and felt sure that the earl, whowas, when not inflamed by anger, a cool and cautious man, would highlydisapprove of Hotspur's frankness; and might possibly detain him, if heknew that he possessed so important a secret. He therefore replied:

  "As to such grave matters, it was not necessary that I should know morethan I have said to you, my Lord Earl. As it is no secret that you andthe Douglases have personal enmity, I deemed that the compact referredto our king giving you aid, should you need it against the Douglases."

  The answer was apparently satisfactory. The earl asked no furtherquestions, on this head.

  "Were there other reasons than those you have stated why he chose youas his messenger?"

  "Another reason he gave me, my lord, was that, as I came of a familywho reside within a few miles of the border, and had relatives on thisside whom I sometimes visited, my language was similar to that spokenin Roxburghshire; so that I could therefore pass as a Lowland Scot,without difficulty. No one, in fact, at the various places at which wehave stopped, has taken me for aught but a countryman; though the monkwith me was often taxed with being an Englishman, though belonging to amonastery at Roxburgh."

  Again the earl was silent for some time.

  "I must think over the message that I shall give you, for Percy," hesaid. "I like not the delay, though I see that there is good reason forit. As one of Hotspur's esquires, I would fain treat you with allcourtesy, and lodge you here; but this might cause question as to whoyou are, and it were, therefore, better that you should lodge in thetown. Have you put up anywhere?"

  "I rested for an hour at the sign of the Lion, my lord; engaging a roomthere, in order to effect a change in my clothes. I left by the backentrance, in order that the change should not be observed."

  "It were best that you fetched those you travelled in away, or ratherthat you returned unnoticed; and, as it is getting dark now, this candoubtless be managed; and, when you sally out, place that cloak overyour shoulders to hide your dress as a servitor, and go to the otherinn, the Falcon. Say, there, that you are staying for a few days inDunbar, having come here on business with me; and that I bade you gothere, so that I might know where to send for you, if necessary. Youcan pass for what you seem, a young trader who has come from Edinburghto arrange, on the part of your father, a cloth merchant there, for asupply of stuffs for the clothing of my retainers."

  Oswald carried out his instructions, walked about until it was quitedark, then entered the inn, made his way unobserved to the chamberwhere he had left his clothes, put these on, made the others up into abundle, and then went downstairs again and paid his bill; saying, as hedid so, that he had found the friends he came to see, and that they hadroom to take him in. After leaving the house he threw the cloak, whichhe had carried on his arm, over his shoulders; and put on the cap thatbelonged to his other dress, and then went to the Falcon Inn, andrepeating to the landlord the statement the earl had made, was at onceshown to a chamber, with some deference.

  "Will your worship have supper here, or in the room below?"

  "I will come down," he said. "It is dull work, sitting alone."

  Having ordered his supper, with a flask of wine, Oswald again donnedhis attire as a trader, and went downstairs. Just as he entered theroom, in which several persons were sitting, a soldier came in from theouter door. He looked round the room.

  "I have a message, from the earl, for the person who was with him, thisafternoon."

  Oswald at once rose, and went across to him.

  "The earl bade me tell you," the soldier said, in a low voice, "thathis present furnisher is Robert Micklethwaite, and that his place ofbusiness is near the castle gate, at Edinburgh."

  "Please thank the earl for the information," Oswald replied, and thenreturned to his seat.

  He had indeed, while dressing, been wondering what name he should give.It was like enough that, in Dunbar, many might know the names of theprincipal traders in Edinburgh; and that, were he to give an unknownone, he might be questioned as to his place of business. The message,therefore, relieved him of this difficulty.

  After he had finished his supper, which was an excellent one, hebeckoned to the landlord.

  "I am a stranger here, landlord," he said. "I pray you to drink a cupwith me, and tell me the news of the place.

  "You may know the name of Micklethwaite," he went on, as the landlordsat down, "and that he comes, or sends regularly, to arrange for thesupply of cloth, its quality and price, required for the earl'sretainers."

  "Master Micklethwaite always puts up here, when he visits Dunbar," thelandlord said. "I must have misunderstood him, for one day, when he wastalking with me, he said that it was a trouble to him that he had nosons."

  "Nor has he," Oswald said; "luckily for me, who am but a nephew."

  "He is a good customer," the landlord went on, "and good company, too;but he cares not for French wines, and does not trouble my cellarer,much."

  "He is a careful man," Oswald said, with a smile; "and though he is agood trencherman, he does not waste his money on such matters. However,he lets me have a freer hand than he uses himself; and asks not, when Ireturn, for a close account of my outgoings.

  "What do they say, here, as to the chances of another war withEngland?"

  "I fear the worst," the landlord replied. "These wars are ruin to us,and we have had the English at the gates of Dunbar over many times,already; and the town sacked, and burnt over our heads, more than once.Though I do not say that it might not have been worse, for our earlshave ever stood aloof, as much as possible, and have often inclinedtowards the English side. Still, even then it is bad enough, for thewhole country, from Berwick, has often been wasted to check theprogress of the armies, and our trade well-nigh ruined. A pest on allwars, say I!"

  "And which way, think you, that the present earl's leanings would go?"

  "I think not about it, one way or the other. My business is to sellfood and liquor, the earl's to take part in affairs of state. In dayslike these, it is quite enough for each man to attend to his ownbusiness, without troubling about that of other people; more especiallywhen that other is a powerful noble, who thinks little enough ofslitting a tongue that wags too freely.

  "No, no, lad; John Sanderson is no fool, and knows better than to openhis mouth, touching the affairs of great nobles. I know not how it maybe with you, and the burghers of Edinburgh, but here we are content tocool our own porridge, and let others take their food hot or cold, asthey choose."

  "I was not wishing you to give me so much your own ideas, as the commontalk of the town; but I see that my question was indiscreet, and I askyour pardon."

  "I know you meant no harm, lad, and that your question was just onethat any young man of your age might ask, without thinking that therewas harm in it, or that the answering of it might lead to harm. I cantell you that, whatever folk may think here in Dunbar, they say naughtabout it to their nearest neighbour. We can talk of war with England,that is too common a thing for there to be harm in it; and as no oneknows aught, one man's opinion is as good as another's; but the talk isgeneral, and assuredly no man asks his neighbour what this great lordwill do, or how matters will go. There is no harm in two gossipswondering whether, if the English come, the town will hol
d out tillhelp comes, or whether they will batter down the walls first.

  "It is a kind of riddle, you see, and all the more that no one knowswho may be by the king's side, when the storm breaks. A generationback, men might make a fair guess; but now it were beyond the wisesthead to say and, for my part, I leave the thinking to those whom itconcerns. You from Edinburgh ought to know more than we do, for ingreat cities men can talk more freely, seeing that no one lord has theplace in his hands, and that the citizens have rights, and hold tothem.

  "The general thought is that we shall have war, directly the truce isover. Among us who live by peaceful trade, we still hope for peace; forwe see not what good comes of war, save to those who make raids inEngland, and as often as not these get more hard knocks than plunder;but to the quiet trader it means loss, and may well mean ruin, if theEnglish army again marches through Scotland. We can discover no reasonwhy the two countries should not live peaceably together, each goingabout its own business. I have heard it said, before now, that it wouldbe a good thing for both countries if the border districts on bothsides were stripped altogether of their people, and allowed to liedesolate.

  "Ay, it would be a rare thing, that. It is thieving loons, on bothsides of the border, that keep up the ill feeling; and the loss wouldnot be great, seeing that there are plenty of waste tracts where thepeople might be bestowed, and pass their time more profitably, inraising crops and cattle, than in destroying or carrying off those oftheir neighbours. However, young sir, that is not like to be, in ourtime."

  "I am afraid not, Sanderson, and we must needs make the best we can ofthings, as they stand. I think that 'twould be well, if the English docome north again and capture Edinburgh, and ruin trade for years, tocross the seas to France, and take service there."

  "Scarce spoken like a peaceful trader," the landlord laughed; "but Idoubt not you would make a good soldier, and that a sword would suityour hand to the full as well as a yard measure.

  "Well, it makes not so much difference, to me. Men must eat and drink,and though my wine would be drunk up without payment, and I should haveto run the risk of being killed on the walls, if the English came; Ishould know that, in a short time, men would come and go as before, andthat they will drink good wine if they have money to pay for it, and insix months my trade would be as brisk as ever; but men seem to thinkthat, this time, it will be the Scots who will invade England, for theEnglish barons have had enough of wars in France, and will be slow infurnishing their quota when called on; and that we shall carry fire andsword through the northern counties."

  "That we may do, though Northumberland and Hotspur will doubtless havesomething to say to it. I fear it will be as it has been, many a timebefore. Our armies will march back with their plunder, the news of thedamage done will inflame all England, and then a great army will marchnorth. The nobles will hasten to make terms for themselves, and theharm and damage will fall upon quiet people, who had nought whatever todo with the invasion."

  "True enough, young sir, true enough, though it is a shame that itshould be said. Had the cities a voice in the matter of peace and war,you may be right sure that we should hear no more of invasions andtroubles, from this side of the Border. I say not that there would bepeace, for the claims of the English kings to authority in Scotland,although we have not heard so much of them since Bannockburn, are butin abeyance; and the first time that there is really peace, betweenthem and France, you may be sure that we shall hear of them again, andthen the towns as well as the country would join, heartily, inrepelling an invasion."

  "They never did so in the past time, Sanderson. They generally openedtheir gates at once, or if they closed them, it was because there was astrong garrison, under some knight or noble who, and not thetownspeople, had the say in the matter. Now, methinks I will to bed,for I have had a long day's travel."

  The next day passed without any message from the earl, but on thefollowing morning one of the retainers from the castle came in, withthe message that the earl desired the presence of Mr. Micklethwaite.

  Oswald went up, at once. The earl was, as before, alone.

  "I have been thinking, Master Forster, that it would be safer, both foryou and for me, were you to tarry here for a while. You came throughsafely, it is true, but you might not have such good fortune on yourreturn; and even though I sent no written answer, it would be enough,were Percy's signet found upon you, to ensure your imprisonment, andperhaps death. At any rate, they would have the means of wringing fromyou the mission of which you were in charge; while I could send equallywell a message by sea, as I did before."

  "I see that there might be some slight danger, my Lord Earl," Oswaldsaid quietly; "but I, as well as another, might take passage down byship touching at Berwick, or other port."

  The earl's brow clouded.

  "'Tis a matter to be thought over," he said, moodily. "A ship might becaptured, seeing that there are often French freebooting vessels on thecoast. And what were your orders from Lord Percy?"

  "That I was to return, immediately I had conveyed his message to you."

  "I would gladly hasten your departure," the earl said, after a moment'spause, "but you see, great issues hang upon this affair. However, Iwill think the matter over again, and will see how it can be bestmanaged."

  After leaving the castle, Oswald went to the convent where the monk waslodged, and asked for speech with Brother Roger. In a minute or two thelatter came out.

  "Are we off, young master?" he asked. "In truth, it is as bad here asat Alnwick; and, after a taste of liberty, I am longing to be outagain; and indeed, I have had some trouble in accounting for my stayhere, instead of continuing my journey to see my aged father."

  "If it depended upon me, I would say that we would start forthwith; butwhat I have somewhat feared, all along, has come to pass. I was thebearer of a certain message of much importance, from Hotspur to theearl, and I fear that the latter will detain me. He thinks that I knowmore than I have said, which indeed is true, and likes not that one whois so entirely cognisant of his secret counsels, and intentions, shouldgo free. He put it down to the fact that I might be captured, on my wayback, and forced to confess the whole details of the mission with whichI am charged. It is possible that this is so, but it is more likelythat he dislikes that anyone should know secrets that concern hissafety; and although he has not said as much, at present, I believethat it is his intention to hold me here as prisoner; though doubtlesswith due courtesy, as befits Percy's messenger and esquire; untilaffairs come to a head, which may not be for a year or two, yet."

  "Is there a guard over you, at present?"

  "Not that I know of, Roger, but it may be that the inn is watched. Atany rate, he would try to overtake me, did I attempt to leave withouthis permission."

  "Then, Master Oswald, I should say let us be off, at once."

  "But how, Roger? On foot we should be speedily overtaken, and if notwatched at present, doubtless I shall be, after my interview with theearl this morning. Were I to try and buy horses, I might be arrested atonce. However, I have been thinking that the best plan would be for youto go round to the port, and to bargain for a passage for us toEdinburgh. Then we would slip on board quietly, half an hour before shesailed.

  "Methinks it were as well that you did not go in your robes. I willpurchase a dress suitable to a cattle drover, for you, and a similarone for myself. I will bring yours for you here, in an hour's time, ifyou will wait a hundred yards from the gate for me. Then you can go tosome quiet spot and change your garments, and then go down to the port.I will be standing at the door of my inn, and as you pass say, withoutchecking your pace, the hour at which a boat sails, today or tomorrow;and then do you be near the hotel, again, an hour before that time.

  "Do not speak to me as I come out, but keep a short distance behind me;and if you see that I am followed by anyone, you must do your best torid me of him. You had better bring your present garments along withyou. They may be useful."

  Roger assented joyously. The tho
ught that, at any rate for a time, hewas to get rid of his robes filled him with joy; and the possibilitythat there might be danger in the enterprise only added to hispleasure.

  Feeling the need for great care, Oswald walked for some little timebefore entering a shop, passing through several quiet streets; and,when assured that he was not followed, he went into the booth of aclothier.

  "I have occasion for two suits of clothes, such as would be worn bycattle drovers," he said. "I am about to travel and, having money aboutme, can best do so safely in such a garment. I want one suit to fit me,and another for a companion, who is a big stout man, a good deal abovethe ordinary height."

  "'Tis a wise precaution, your honour, for the roads are by no meanssafe, at present. I can fit you, with ease, and will pick out thelargest clothes I have in stock, for your companion."

  The purchase was soon made. It consisted of a rough smock of bluecloth, reaching to the knees, and girded in by a strap at the waist;and breeches of the same material, reaching below the knees, withstrips of gray cloth to be wound round and round the leg, from the kneeto the ankle. In addition, Oswald bought two pairs of rough sandals,and two lowland bonnets. Each suit was done up, at his request, in aseparate parcel; and then, retracing his steps, he joined Roger andhanded his clothes to him.

  "I will go outside the gates and change my things," Roger said, "andthen go down to the port. I will then come to your hotel, as you said.If no ship sails until tomorrow, I have only to put my robe on overthese garments, and return to the convent. If there is one sailing thisevening, I shall not go back there again; but will be on the lookoutfor you, half an hour before the boat leaves the port."

  "The nearer the time of sailing, the better, Roger; for if I amwatched, and there is any trouble with the man who follows me, thesooner we are on board before any alarm is raised, the better. But Ishould hardly think a boat would start, in the evening."

  "I don't know, Master Oswald. I was down at the port, yesterday, andthe tide was high at three o'clock; and methinks that a boat would putout an hour or two before low tide, so as to take the water with it asfar as New Berwick, and there catch the flood flowing into the Firth.In that case, the boat would put out at six, or maybe seven o'clock."

  "I would that it had been two hours later, Roger. After dark, it wereeasy enough to silence a man without attracting much attention; but inbroad daylight, it would not be so easily done."

  "Not if we went straight from the inn to the port, Master, but there isno need for you to take that route."

  "You are right, Roger. Indeed, it would be better not to do so, forwere they to have an idea that we had escaped by water, the earl mightsend a fast boat after us. Therefore, when I come out I will turn offand go, by unfrequented streets and lanes, in the opposite direction.In that way you will be better able to see if I am followed, and mayfind some quiet place, where you can give a man a clout on the headthat will rid us of him."

  "Will you come out, Master Oswald, in your present attire, or in yourdisguise?"

  "I will wear this cloak and headgear, and will put these leggings overthe others, so that I shall have but to take them off and fling themaside, and to throw off my cloak and cap and put on this bonnet, all ofwhich will not take a minute and can be done in a doorway or passagewithout attracting observation. I should be afraid to go out, in thedrover's attire. The servants at the inn know me, now; and moreover, aman of such condition would not think of going to the Falcon. Were I tobe noticed, coming out, it might be thought that I had entered it forsome evil purpose."

  "I shall be on hand, master. I had thought of not returning to themonastery, but I must do so, for I have left my staff there, and itwill be as suitable for a drover as a monk. I shall go to the harbour,as soon as I have seen you; and if it is this evening a boat sails, Ishall go back at once and bid them farewell, saying that a ship issailing for Leith, and that I have taken passage in her."

  Oswald returned to the inn and, half an hour later, went down to thedoorway, where he stood as if idly watching the flow of traffic. Aquarter of an hour later, he saw Roger approaching. He looked thecharacter that he had assumed, to the life. He had dirtied his handsand face, and smudged his smock with stains of mud. He strolled along,with a free step and head erect. He did not look at Oswald as hepassed, but said, "Boat sails at seven, tonight."

  Oswald stood for some time longer. A short distance down the street, heobserved two of the earl's retainers. They were standing, apparentlylooking at the goods in a mercer's window. After a time, they moved ona short distance, passed the inn, and stopped again to look in anothershop, twenty or thirty yards away.

  Then Oswald left the door. The landlord was standing in the passage,and beckoned to him to enter his private room.

  "Young sir," he said, "I know not whether you have done anything thathas displeased the earl, nor is it any business of mine; but you are afair-spoken young gentlemen, and I would not that any ill came to you.I like not to meddle in the earl's affairs, for he would think nothingof ordering my house to be burnt over my head. However, I may warn youthat he is making inquiries about you. One of his retainers has beenhere, two hours ago, with a confidential message from the earl, toinquire whether you had said anything about leaving, and to bid me senda message to him, secretly, should you do so."

  "I thank you warmly, my good host," Oswald replied. "I have had noquarrel with the earl, but we have differed as to the value of thegoods he requires. He would fain have them at last year's prices; butwool has gone up, and we could not sell them, save at a loss. It may bethat he thinks I shall go away, and that if he finds I am about to doso he will send for me, and agree to my terms, which indeed are so lowthat they leave but little profit. However, it were well that youshould let me know how much I owe you, and I will pay that, at once. Donot make up the account, but tell me roundly there or thereabouts; andthen, should I leave suddenly, you can say truly that I had not askedfor my bill, and that you were altogether ignorant of my intention ofleaving."

  "There can be no occasion for that," the host said. "You can pay me thenext time you come, should you decide to leave suddenly."

  "Nay, I would rather settle obligations, for if I do not do businesswith the earl, it may be some time before I return."

  The landlord made rapid calculations, and named a sum, which Oswald atonce handed to him, with warm thanks for the warning he had given him.

  "I may stay here three or four days longer," he said meaningly, "as theearl may, at the last moment, come to an agreement as to the price ofthe goods. I should be sorry to return to my uncle without getting anorder, for the earl has, for years, been one of our best customers."

  The landlord nodded.

  "I understand," he said. "It would be as well, perhaps, that you shouldsay as much in the hearing of one of the drawers; so that, ifquestioned, I shall have a witness who can bear me out."