s orders. She had understood from his man that his Honour meant to spend the night, and she stood anxiously in the passage,

e, leaving the smaller parlour, which was Mistress Potta

melancholy landlady and her meagre fare, but he was glad of the private room, and was g

e of a burly English squire, he was consuming large slabs of meat and innumerable tankards of small ale, whilst opposite to him, poised on the extreme edge of a very hard oak cha

s coat looked thin: there was in fact a general ai

but very shrewd eyes upon the heavy, somewha

a low, somewhat apologetic voice. "I was standing in the door of

man," quoth Sir Hum

Master Mittachip in a weak voice, "there was

vident satisfaction the increasin

n actor measuring his effects, "beneath her cloak her ladyship

commented Sir H

had a large seal attached to it. I might alm

rd Stuart, th

ertain, your Honour," murmur

ed a silver tooth-pick, and was using it as an adjunct to deep meditat

r Humphrey at last. "Lady Patience

ssion created in my

rattle, whilst Master Mittachip almost lost his balance. "Why does she take them to London, I say? Because they are the proofs of her brother's innocence.

the table, and began pacing the narr

is placid air of apologetic deference, and a look o

ured, "then my Lord

to be with the Stuarts, but he went south during the rebellion-'twa

Mittachip's terror

appealingly those of his employer, "your Honour laid sworn information against Lord Stretton ...

for it, didn't I?" said

umphrey ... I shall be disgraced ... st

loud, jovial, laughs which those

f us is to hang, old scarecr

ap on the shoulder, which nearly precipita

... but what was the reason of the information against Lord S

sition, then hoped to succeed in establishing his innocence in certain ways I had in my mind. I wished to be the one to save him," he ad

he was to the somewhat uncertain tempers of the great folk he had to deal with. Moreove

nothing," he moaned; "w

. Then suddenly Sir Humphrey's face lighted up with animation. The scowl disappeare

d as that.... Adsbud! you're not hanged yet, are you? and," he added si

... b .

nd sitting astride upon it, he viewed the meagre little creature before him steadfastly and seriously; "can't

E

marry me, those proofs of your brother's innocence shall be l

y comment: a mere gasp of amazement, of

im, and in it saw such a firm will, such unbendable determination, tha

ed to be waiting for him to speak, "truly those

for you, Master Mittachip," said Challoner, very slowly and s

any kicks and constant abuse. A receiver of rents has from time immemorial never been a popular figure. Master Mittachip found life hard, an

ade his attenuated senses reel. There was that bit of freehold property at Wirksworth whic

Master Mittachip, to get

s brought the poor man bac

mured dejectedly, "how can I

reless shrug of his broad shoulders, "Methought you'd gladl

Sir Hump

his own broad thigh and laughing heartily. "You shall play the daring highwayman! put on a mask and stop h

r Humphrey's fancy, for the moment he even forgot the grave issues he himself had

ittachip's thin, bloodless face assumed an air of deep

ron's hilarity had somewhat subsided, "but I am not happy astride a horse, and I know nought of pistols, but

mean? I was

Humphrey. I was thin

highw

ity, whom he plunders whene'er he has a chance. Your

you, man, for a dotard!

l cross the Heath to-night, tell him of her money and her jewels, offer him a hundred

eyes were twinkling, his thin lips quivering with excitement, dr

s Honour had a great deal at stake: a beautiful woman whom he loved and her large fortune to boot. But re

lk arrant nonsense when you say I'm to give a highwayman news of her ladyship's coa

was not averse to the plan. Already he was pr

n around him, Sir Humphrey. You can send any news y

ow

t before sunset, you'll mayhap see a chestnut horse tethered there and there'll be a stranger talking to John Stich; a stranger young and well-looking. He's oft to be seen at the forge. The folk about here never ask who the stranger is, for all

ith ill-concealed satisfaction. The plan had indeed found favour with his Honour; it was quick, daring, sure: the fortune of a lifetime upon one throw. Sir Humphrey, even before the attorney had

e first comment he made after a

Beau Brocade would not hurt a pretty woman. He'll g

he end of my days. My good name would

is your wife and her fortune in your pocket?

e. Chivalry and honour had

ly, "once you have the letters, you can denounce the rog

denoun

Not Squire West, for sure, before whom he'd be tried, and your Honour ca

n. There seemed practically no risk as far as Sir Humphrey himself was concern

ady Rounce, and the young lady travelling in the coach but a niece of her ladyship. Lady Rounce is a hard woman w

was too absorbed to note the impertinence. He was pacing

noting the look of stern determination upon his Honour's face, he turned the conversation to matters of business. He had been colle

e would be no room for Master Mittachip and Master Duffy, his clerk. He hoped to reach Bra

of intercourse with the quality had taught him, and never mentioned Beau Brocade, Lady Patience or John Stich's forge again. But when he had bowed and scraped h