StillIwastroubledaboutthismatter,forsomeofthesepriestswereveryfierceandintolerant,andIwassurethatintimetheywouldpushthebusinessfurther。
OnemorethingInoticedaboutKari,namely,thatheshrankfromwomenandindeedseemedtohatethem。Themaidswhohadremainedwithmesincemyuncle\'sdeathnoticedthis,bynatureasitwere,andinrevengewouldnotservehim。Theendofitwasthat,fearinglesttheyshoulddohimsomeevilturnwiththepriestsorotherwise,Isentthemawayandhiredmentotaketheirplace。ThisdistasteofKariforwomenIsetdowntoallthathehadsufferedatthehandsofhisfalseandbeautifulwifenotwronglyasIthink。
CHAPTERV
THECOMINGOFBLANCHE
Oneday,itwasthelastoftheyear,theanniversaryofthedeathofmyunclewhosegoodnessandwisdomIponderedonmoreandmoreastimewentby,havingalittletimetosparefromlargeraffairs,Ichancedtobeintheshopinthefrontofthehouse,which,asJohnGrimmerhadsaid,hekeptasatrapto\"snaretheladybirds,\"andIcontinued,becauseIknewthathewouldnotwishthatanythingshouldbechanged。
HereIwaspleasingmyselfbylookingoversuchpiecesaswehadtosellwhichtheheadcraftsmanwasshowingtome,sincemyselfIknewlittleofthem,exceptasamatterofaccount。
WhilstIwasthusengagedthereenteredtheshopaveryfineladyaccompaniedbyastillfinerlordlingarrayedsosimilarlythat,atfirstsight,intheirhoodederminecloaksitwasdifficulttoknowwhichwasmanandwhichwaswoman。Whentheythrewtheseaside,however,fortheshopwaswarmaftertheopenair,Iknewmorethanthat,sincewithasuddenstoppageoftheheartIsawbeforemenoneotherthantheladyBlancheAleysandherrelative,thelordDeleroy。
She,whointheolddaysoftheHastingsburningshadbeenbutalilybud,wasnowanopenflowerandbeautifulexceedingly;indeedinherownfashionthemostbeautifulwomanthateverIbeheld。Tallshewasandstatelyasalilybloom,whiteasalilyalso,saveforthosewondrousblueeyesoverwhichcurledthedarklashes。Inshape,too,shewasperfect,full—breasted,yetnottoofull,small—waisted,andwithdelicatelimbs,averyVenus,suchanoneasIhadseeninancientmarblebroughtinashipfromItalyandgiven,asIbelieve,totheKing,wholovedsuchthings,tobesetupinhispalace。
Mylordalsowasyethandsomerthanhehadbeen,moresetandmanly,thoughstillheaffectedhiscoxcombparty—coloureddresswiththeturned—upshoesofwhichthepointswerefastenedbylittlegoldenchainsbeneaththeknee。Stillhewasafinemanwithhisrovingblackeyes,hisloosemouthandlittlepointedbeardfromwhich,asfromhishair,cameanodourofscents。Seeingmeinmymerchant\'sgown,forI
remainedmindfulofmyuncle\'sadviceasregardsattire,hespoketomeasgreatmendotoshop—keepers。
\"Wellmet,Goldsmith,\"hesaidinhisround,well—trainedvoice,\"I
wouldmakeanew—yeargifttotheladyhere,andIamtoldthatyouhaveplate—waresofthebest;goldcupsandjewelsofrichandraredesign,stampedallofthemwiththeimageofthesunwhichonewouldwishtorememberonsuchadayasthis。Buthearken,letJohnGrimmerhimselfcometoservemeforIwouldtreatwithnounderlings,ortakemetohimwhereheis。\"
NowIbowedbeforehim,rubbingmyhands,andanswered,forsothehumourledme:\"ThenIfearthatImusttakemylordfartherthanmylordwouldwishtotraveljustatpresent,thoughwhoknows？
Perchance,liketherestofus,hemaytakethatjourneysoonerthanhethinks。\"
NowatthesoundofmyvoiceIsawtheladyBlanchestareatme,tryingtocatchsightofmyfacebeneaththehoodwhichIworeonthiscoldday,whileDeleroystartedandsaidbriefly:
\"Yourmeaning？\"
\"Itisplain,mylord。JohnGrimmerisdeadandIknownotwherehedwellsatpresentsincehetookthatsecretwithhim。ButI,whounworthilycarryonhistrade,amatyourlordship\'sservice。\"
ThenIturnedandbadetheshopmancommandKaritocomehitherandbringwithhimthechoicestofourcupsandjewels。
HewentandIbusiedmyselfinsettingstoolsforthesenoblecustomerstorestonbeforethefire。AsIdidsobychancemyhandtouchedthatoftheladyBlanche,whereatoncemoreshestrovetopeerbeneathmyhood。Itwasasthoughthenatureinherknewthattouchagain,asbysomeinstincteverywomandoes,ifoncethetoucher\'slipshavebeennearherown,thoughitbelongago。ButIonlyturnedmyheadawayanddrewthathoodthecloser。
NowKaricameandwithhimtheshopman,bearingthepreciouswares。
Kariworeawool—linedrobe,veryplain,whichyetbecamehimsowellthatwithhisfine—cutfaceandflashingeyeshelookedlikeanEasternprincedisguised。Athimthisfinepairstared,forneverhadtheyseensuchaman,buttakingnonote,withmanybowsheshowedthejewelsonebyone。Amongthesewasagemofgreatvalue,alarge,heart—shapedrubythatKarihadsetinasurroundoftwistedgoldenserpentswithheadsraisedtostrikeandlittleeyesofdiamonds。UponthisbroochtheladyBlanchefixedhergazeanddiscardingallothers,begantoplaywithit,tillatlengththelordDeleroyaskedtheprice。IconsultedwithKari,explainingthatmyselfIdidnothandlethisbranchofmybusiness,thennameditcarelessly;itwasagreatsum。
\"God\'struth！Blanche,\"saidDeleroy,\"thismerchantthinksIammadeofgold。Youmustchooseacheaperornamentforyournewyear\'sgift,orhewillhavetowaitforpayment。\"
\"WhichmayhapIshouldbewillingtodofromoneofyourquality,mylord,\"Iinterrupted,bowing。
Helookedatmeandsaid:
\"CanIhaveawordapartwithyou,merchant？\"
AgainIbowedandledhimtotheeating—roomwherehegazedabouthim,amazedattherichnessofthefurnishings。HesathimdownuponacarvenchairwhileIstoodbeforehimhumblyandwaited。
\"Iamtold,\"hesaidatlength,\"thatJohnGrimmerdidotherbusinessbesidesthatofsellingjewels。\"
\"Yes,mylord,someforeigntrade。\"
\"Andsomehometradealso。Imeanthathelentmoney。\"
\"Attimes,mylord,andongoodsecurity,ifhechancedtohaveanyatcommand,andatacertaininterest。Perhapsmylordwillcometohispoint。\"
\"Itisshortandclear。ThoseofuswhoareatCourtalwayswantmoneywhereitisneedfulifwewouldhaveadvancementandearntheroyalfavourofonewhodoesnotpay,atleastingold。\"
\"Bepleasedtostatetheamountandthesecurityoffered,mylord。\"
Hedidso。Thesumwashighandthesecuritywasbad。
\"Arethereanywhowouldstandsuretyformylord？\"
\"Yes,oneofgreatestate,SirRobertAleys,whohaswidelandsinSussex。\"
\"Ihaveheardthename,andifmylordwillbidhislawyersputthematterinwriting,Iwillcausethelandstobevaluedandgiveananswerasquicklyasmaybe。\"
\"Forayoungmanyouarecareful,merchant。\"
\"Alas！suchasIneedtobewhomustguardoursmallearningsinthesetroubloustimesofwarandtumult。SuchasumasyouspeakofwouldtakeallthatJohnGrimmerandIhavelaidbyafteryearsoftoil。\"
Againhelookedatthefurnishingsoftheroomandshruggedhisshoulders,thensaid:
\"Good,itshallbedonefortheneedisurgent。Towhomisthelettertobesent？\"
\"ToJohnGrimmer,attheBoatHouse,Cheapside。\"
\"ButyoutoldmethatJohnGrimmerwasdead。\"
\"Andsoheis,mylord,buthisnameremains。\"
ThenwereturnedtothesopandaswewentIsaid,\"Ifyourlordship\'sladyshouldsetherheartupontherubythecostofitcanstandoverawhile,sinceIknowthatitishardforahusbandtodisappointawifeofwhatshedesires。\"
\"Man,sheismydistantcousin,notmywife。Iwouldshewere,buthowcantwohigh—placedpauperswed？\"
\"Perhapsitisforthisreasonthatmylordwishestoborrowmoney。\"
Againheshruggedhisshoulders,andasweenteredtheshopIthrewbackthehoodfromoffmyheaduponwhichIworeamerchant\'scapofvelvet。TheladyBlanchecaughtsightofmeandstarted。
\"Surely,surely,\"shebegan,\"youarehewhoshotthethreearrowsatthecave\'smouthatHastings。\"
\"Yes,mylady,anddidyourhawkescapethedogsupontheLondonroad？\"
\"Nay,itwascrippledanddied,whichwasthefirstofmanytroubles,forIthinkmyluckrodeawaywithyouthatday,MasterHubertofHastings,\"sheaddedwithasigh。
\"Thereareotherhawksandluckreturns,\"Ireplied,bowing。\"Perhapsthistrinketwillbringitbacktoyou,mylady,\"andtakingthesnake—surroundedrubyheart,Iprofferedittoherwithanotherbow。
\"Oh！\"shesaid,herblueeyesshiningwithpleasure,\"oh！itisbeautiful,butwhenceisthepricetocomeforsocostlyathing？\"
\"Ithinkthematterisonethatcanwait。\"
AtthatmomentthelordDeleroybrokein,saying,\"SoyouarethemanwhoslewtheFrenchknightwithanancientsword,andafterwardsshotthreeotherFrenchmenwiththreeshafts,sendingoneofthemthroughshieldandmailandbody,atalethatwasspokenofafterwards,eveninLondon。God\'struth！youshouldbeservingtheKinginthewars,notyourselfbehindthecounter。\"
\"Therearemanywaysofserving,mylord,\"Ianswered,\"bypenandmerchandiseaswellasbysteelandshafts。Nowwithmeitistheturnoftheformer,thoughperhapstheancientswordandthegreatblackbowwaittilltheirtimecomesagain。\"
Hestaredatmeandmuttered,halftohimself:
\"Astrangemerchantandagrim,asthosedeadFrenchmenmayhavethought。Itellyou,SirTrader,thatyourtalkandtheeyesofthattallMoorofyoursturnmybackcold;itisasthoughsomeonewalkedovermygrave。Come,Blanche,letusbegoneereourhorsesbechilledasIam。MasterGrimmer,orHastings,youshallhearfromme,unlessI
candomybusinessotherwise,andforthetrinketsendmeanoteatyourleisure。\"
Thentheywent,butastheladyBlanchelefttheshopshecaughtherrobeandturnedtofreeit,whileshedidsoflashingatmeoneofhersweetlookssuchasIrememberedwell。
Karifollowedtothedoorandwatchedthemmounttheirhorsesatthegate,thenhesearchedthegroundwithhiseyes。
\"Whatwasithookedhercloak？\"Iasked。
\"Adream,ortheair,Master,forthereisnothingelsetowhichitcouldhavehung。Thosewhowouldthrowspearsbehindthemmustfirstturnround。\"
\"Whatthinkyouofthosetwo,Kari？\"
\"Ithinkthattheywillnotpayforyourjewel,butperhapsthiswasbutabaituponthehook。\"
\"Andwhatmore,Kari？\"
\"Ithinkthattheladyisveryfairandfalse,andthatthegreatlord\'sheartisasblackasarehiseyes。AlsoIthinkthattheyaredeartoeachotherandwellmatched。Butitseemsthatyouhavemetthembothbefore,Master,soyouwillknowbetteraboutthemthanyourslave。\"
\"Yes,Ihavemetthem,\"Iansweredsharply,forhiswordsaboutBlancheangeredme,adding,\"Ihavenoted,Kari,thatyouhaveneveragoodwordforanyonewhomIfavour。Youarejealous—natured,Kari,especiallyofwomen。\"
\"Youask,Ianswer,\"hereplied,fallingintobrokenEnglish,aswashisfashionwhenmoved,\"anditistruethatthosewhohavemuchlove,aremuchjealous。Thatisafaultinmypeople。AlsoIlovenotwomen。
NowIgomakeanotherpieceforthatwhichMastergivethelady。Onlythistimeitallsnakeandnoheart。\"
Hewent,takingthetrayofjewelswithhim,andI,too,wenttotheeating—roomtothink。
Howstrangewasthismeeting。IhadneverforgottentheladyBlanche,butinasenseIhadlivedhermemorydownandmindfulofmyuncle\'scounsel,hadnotsoughttolookuponheragain,forwhichreasonI
keptawayfromHastingswhereIthoughtthatIshouldfindher。AndnowhereshewasinLondonandinmyhouse,broughtthitherbyfate。
Norwasthatall,sincethoseblueeyesofhershadre—lightedthedeadfiresinmyheartand,seatedtherealone,IknewthatIlovedher;indeedhadneverceasedtoloveher。Shewasmoretomethanallmywealth,morethananything,andalas！betweenustherewasstillagreatgulffixed。
Shewasnotwed,itwastrue,butshewasahighlyplacedlady,andI
butamerchantwhocouldnotevencallmyselfasquire,orbylawweargarmentsmadeofcertainstuffswhichIhandleddailyinmytrade。Howmightthatgulfbecrossed？
ThenasImusedthereroseinmymindamemoryofcertainsayingsofmywiseolduncle,andwithitananswertothequestion。Goldwouldbridgethewideststreamsofhumandifference。Thesefinefolkforalltheirflauntingswerepoor。Theycametometoborrowmoneywherewithtogildtheircoronetsandsatisfytheimportunatecreditorsattheirdoor,lesttheyshouldbepulledfromtheirhighplaceandforcedbackintothenumberofthecommonherdasthosewhocouldnolongereithergiveorpay。
Andafterall,wasthisdifferencebetweenthemandmesowide？ThegrandsireofSirRobertAleys,Ihadbeentold,gatheredhiswealthbytradeandusuryintheoldwars;indeed,itwassaidthathewasonewhodealtincattle,whileLordDeleroywasreportedtobeabastard,ifofthebluestblood,sobluethatitrannightotheroyalpurple。
Well,whatwasmine？Onthefather\'sside,SaxondescendedfromthatofThaneswhowentdownbeforetheNormansandthereafterbecamehumblelandedfolkofthelessersort。Onthemother\'s,oftheraceoftheoldsea—kingswhoslewandconqueredthroughalltheworldtheyknew。WasIthensofarbeneaththeseothers？Nay,butlikemyfatherandmyuncleIwasonewhoboughtandsoldandthehandofthedyerwasstainedtothecolourofhisvat。
Thusstoodthebusiness。I,astubbornman,notill—favoured,towhomFortunehadgivenwealth,wasdeterminedtowinthiswomanwho,itseemedtome,lookeduponmewithnounkindeyesinceIhadsavedherfromcertainperils。TomyselfthenandthereIsworeIwouldwinher。
Thequestionwas——howcoulditbedone？ImightentertheserviceoftheKingandfighthisbattlesanddoubtlesswinmyselfaknighthood,ormore,whichwouldopentheclosedgate。
Nay,itwouldtaketoolong,andsomethingwarnedmethattimepressed。Thatstrangeforeignman,Kari,saidthatBlanchewasenamouredofthisDeleroy,andalthoughIwaswrathwithhim,settinghiswordsdowntojealousyofanyonwhomIlookedwithkindness,I
knewwellthatKarisawfar。IfItarried,thisrarewhitebirdwouldslipfrommyhandintoanother\'scage。Imuststiratonceorletthematterbe。Well,Ihadwealth,soletwealthbemyfriend。Timeenoughtotrywarwhenitfailedme。
Onthethirddayofthenewyear,whichatthistimeofCourtrevelryshowedthatthemattermustindeedbepressing,IreceivedthoseparticularsforwhichIhadasked,togetherwithalistofthelandsandtenementsthatSirRobertAleyswasreadytoputinpawnonbehalfofhisfriendandrelative,thelordDeleroy。Whyshouldhedothis,I
wondered？Therecouldonlybeoneanswer:becauseheandnotDeleroywastoreceivethemoney,ormostofit。
Nay,anothercameintomymindasprobable。BecausehelookeduponDeleroyashisheir,which,shouldhemarrytheladyBlanche,hewouldbecome。IfthisweresoImustact,andquickly,thatis,ifIwouldeverseemoreoftheladyBlanche,asperchanceImightdobytreadingthisgold—pavedroad,butnototherwise。Istudiedthelistoflands。
AsitchancedIknewmostofthem,fortheylayaboutPevenseyandHastings,andsawthattheywerescarcelyworththemoneyswhichwereaskedofme。Well,whatofit？Thismatterwasnotoneoftradeandlargeasthesummightbe,IwouldriskitforthechanceofwinningBlanche。
TheendofitwasthatwaitingfornovaluingsIwrotethatonproofoftitlecleanandunencumberedandcompletionofalldeeds,Iwouldpayoverthegoldtowhoevermightbeappointedtoreceiveit。
Thisletterofmineprovedtobebutthebeginningofalongbusinesswhereofthedetailsmaybeleftuntold。OntheverynextdayindeedI
wassummonedtothehouseofSirRobertAleyswhichwasneartothepalaceandabbeyofWestminster。HereIfoundthegruffoldknightgrowngreyerandhaving,asitseemedtome,ahuntedair,andwithhimthelordDeleroyandtwofoxylawyersofwhomIdidnotlikethelook。Indeed,forthefirst,IsuspectedthatIwasbeingtrickedandhaditnotbeenfortheladyBlanche,wouldhavebrokenofftheloan。
Becauseofher,however,thisIdidnotdo,buthavingstatedmytermsanew,andtherateanddatesofinterest,satforalongwhilesayingaslittleaspossible,whiletheothersunfoldedparchmentsandtalkedandtalked,tellingtalesthatoftencontradictedeachother,tillatlengththelordDeleroy,whoseemedillatease,grewwearyandleftthechamber。Atlastallwasdonethatcouldbedoneatthatsittinganditbeingpastthehourofdinner,Iwastakenintoeat,consenting,becauseIhopedthatIshouldseetheladyBlanche。
Abutler,orchamber—groom,ledmetothedining—hallandsatmewiththelawyersatatablebeneaththedais。PresentlyonthisdaisappearedSirRobertAleys,hisdaughterBlanche,thelordDeleroy,andperhapseightortenotherfinefolkwhomIhadneverseen。She,lookingabouther,sawmeseatedatthelowertable,andspoketoherfatherandDeleroy,reasoningwiththelatter,asitwouldappear。
Indeed,inasuddenhushIcaughtsomeofherwords。Theywere,\"Ifyouarenotashamedtotakehismoney,youshouldnotbeashamedtositatmeatwithhim。\"
Deleroystampedhisfoot,buttheendofitwasthatIwassummonedtothehightablewheretheladyBlanchemadeplaceformebesideher,whileDeleroysathimselfdownbetweentwosplendiddamesattheotherendoftheboard。
Here,then,IstayedbyBlanchewho,Inoted,woretherubyheartencircledbyserpents。Indeed,thiswasthefirstthingofwhichshespoketome,saying,\"Itlookswelluponmyrobe,doesitnot,andIthankyouforit,MasterHubert,whoknowsurelythatitisnotmycousinDeleroy\'sgift,butyours,sinceforityouwillneverseeyourmoney。\"
BywayofanswerIlookedatthesumptuousplateandfurnishings,theprofusionoftheviands,andthenumberoftheserving—men。Readingmythought,shereplied,\"Aye,butpledged,allofit。Itellyou,MasterHubert,thatwearestarvedhounds,thoughweliveinakennelwithgoldenbars。Andnowtheywouldpawnyouthatkennelalso。\"
Then,whileIwonderedwhattosay,shebegantotalkofourgreatadventureinbygoneyears,recallingeverytinythingthathadhappenedandeverywordthathadbeenspokenbetweenus,someofwhichIhadforgotten。Ofonethingonlyshesaidnothing——thekisseswithwhichweparted。Amongstmuchelse,shespokeofhowtheancientswordhadshornthroughthearmouroftheFrenchknight,andItoldherthattheswordwasnamedWave—Flameandthatithadcomedowntomefrommyancestor,ThorgrimmertheViking,andofwhatwaswrittenonitsblade,toallofwhichshelistenedgreedily。
\"Andtheythoughtyounotfittositatmeatwiththem,youwhoseraceissooldandwhoaresogreatawarrior,asyoushowedthatday。AnditistoyouthatIowemylifeandmorethanlife,toyouandnottothem。\"
Sosayingsheshotaglanceatmethatpiercedmethroughandthrough,asmyarrowshadpiercedtheFrenchmen,andwhatismorebeneaththecoveroftheboardforamomentletherslimhandrestuponmyown。
Afterthisforawhileweweresilent,forindeedIcouldnotspeak。
Thenwetalkedonaswecoulddowellenough,sincetherewasnooneonmyleftwheretheboardended,andonBlanche\'srightwasafatoldlordwhoseemedtobedeafandoccupiedhimselfindrinkingmorethanheshouldhavedone。Itoldhermuchaboutmyself,alsowhatmymotherhadsaidtomeonthedayoftheBurning,andofhowshehadprophesiedthatIshouldbeawanderer,wordsatwhichBlanchesighedandanswered:
\"YetyouseemtobewellplantedinLondonandinrichsoil,MasterHubert。\"
\"Aye,Lady,butitisnotmynativesoilandfortherestwegowhereFateleadsus。\"
\"Fate！Whatdoesthatwordbringtomymind？Ihaveit;yonderMoorofyourswhomakesthosejewels。HehastheveryeyesofFateandIfearhim。\"
\"Thatisstrange,Lady,andyetnotsostrange,foraboutthismanthereissomethingfateful。EverheswearstomethatIshallaccompanyhimtosomedimlandwherehewasborn,ofwhichlandheisaprince。\"
ThenItoldherallthestoryofKari,towhichshelistenedopen—eyedandwondering,sayingwhenIhadfinished,\"Soyousavedthispoorwandereralso,anddoubtlesshelovesyouwell。\"
\"Yes,Lady,almosttoowell,seeingthatattimesheisjealousofme,thoughGodknowsIdidlittleforhimsavepickhimfromacrowduponthequay。\"
\"Ah！Iguessit,whosawhimwatchingyoutheotherday。Yetitisstrange,forIthoughtthatonlywomencouldbejealousofmen,andmenofwomen。Hush！theyaremockingusbecausewetalksofriendly。\"
Ilookedup,followingherglance,andsawthatDeleroyandthetwofineladiesbetweenwhomhesat,allofwhomappearedtohavehadenoughofwine,werepointingatus。Indeed,inasilence,suchasnowandagainhappensatfeasts,Iheardoneofthemsay,\"Youhadbestbewarelestthatfairwhitedoveofyoursdoesnotslipyourhandandbegintocooinanother\'sear,myLordDeleroy,\"andheardhisanswer,\"Nay,Ihavehertoofast,andwhocaresforapiningdovewhereofthefeathersadornanother\'scap？\"
WhilstIwaswonderingwhatthisdarktalkmightmeanthecompanybrokeup,theladyBlancheglidingawaythroughadooratthebackofthedais,followed,asInoted,byDeleroywhoseemedflushedandangry。
ManytimesIvisitedthatprodigalhousewhichseemedtometobethehauntoffolkwho,howeverhighlyplacedandgreatlyfavouredatCourt,wereaslooseintheirlivesastheywereintheirtalk。
Indeed,althoughIwasnosaint,Ilikedthemnotatall,especiallythemenwiththeirscentedhair,turned—upshoes,andparty—colouredclothes。NorasIthought,didSirRobertAleyslikethem,who,whateverhisfaults,wasabluffknightoftheoldersort,whohadfoughtwithcreditintheFrenchwars。YetInotedthatheseemedtobehelplessintheirhands,orratherinthoseofDeleroy,theKing\'sfavourite,whowasthechiefofallthegang。Itwasasthoughthatgayandhandsomeyoungmanhadsomeholdovertheoldsoldier,yes,andoverhisdaughteralso,thoughwhatthismightbeIcouldnotguess。
NowIwillmoveonwiththetale。Induecoursetheparchmentsweresignedanddelivered,andthemoneyingoodgoldwaspaidoveronmybehalf,afterwhichthegreathouseholdatWestminsterbecamemoreprodigalthanbefore。Butwhenthetimecameforthedischargeoftheinterestduenotagroatwasforthcoming。Thenafterwardstherewastalkofmytakingovercertainofthepledgedlandsinlieuofthisinterest。SirRobertsuggestedthisandIassented,becauseBlanchehadtoldmethatitwouldhelpherfather。Onlywhenthematterwassetonfootbymylawyerswasitfoundthattheselandswerenothistotransfer,inasmuchastheyhadbeenalreadymortgagedtotheirvalue。
ThentherewasafiercequarrelbetweenSirRobertAleysandthelordDeleroy,atwhichIwaspresent。SirRobertwithmanyoathsaccusedhiscousinofhavingforgedhisnamewhenhewasabsentinFrance,whileDeleroydeclaredthatwhathedidwasdonewithdueauthority。
Almosttheydrewswordsoneachother,tillatlengthDeleroytookAleysasideandwithafiercegrinwhisperedsomethingintohisearwhichcausedtheoldknighttosinkdownonastoolandcallout,\"Getyougone,youfalserogue！Getoutofthishouse,aye,andoutofEngland。IfImeetyouagain,byGod\'sBloodIswearthatKing\'sfavouriteornoKing\'sfavourite,I\'llthroatyoulikeahog！\"
