A Gentleman Player

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d from those in which they had gone through their adventure in the same neighborhood the previous night. They were well mounted; for Kit Bottle was not the man to be gulled by the jinglers

always a possibility of use for weapons, in travelling in those days; even on the much-frequented road from London to St. Albans ("as common as the way between St. Albans and London," said Poins, of Doll Tearsheet), in which thoroughfare, until he should turn out beyond Barnet. Hal's course lay. It was a highway that, not far

like two miles an hour. The royal post for the bearing of letters was in a primitive and uncertain state. Travelling by post was unknown, in the later sense of the term: such as it was, it was a luxury of the great, who had obvious means of arranging for relays of horses; and of state messengers, who might press horses for the queen's service. When ordinary men w

-two who had read "The Faerie Queen" for the romance and not for the allegory, he would have liked some opportunity to play the fighting knight in service of his queen. On Finchley Common he looked well about, half in dread, half in

atching, never using the false dice till the true went against him, look you; nor bullying a winner out of the stakes when they could be had peaceably; and always working alone, disdaining to fellow with rascally gangs. But often I have sighed that I did not as Rumney did,-he that was mine ancient in the campaigns in Spain and Ireland. When the nation waxed womanish, and would have no more of war, Rumney, for love of the country, took to the highways, and I have heard he hath thrived well about Sherwood forest and toward Yorkshire. 'Twas my choice of a town life hindered me being his

as on the wane when they passed through Hatfield. They had made but five miles an hour, the road, though frozen, being uneven and difficult, and Hal assuming that the pursuivant, ignorant of a plan to forewarn Sir Valentine, would not greatly hasten. He relied on the hour's start he had taken out of London, and he saved his horses to meet any dema

now near at hand, and he was still unsettled between opposite feelings,-satisfaction that his errand seemed certain of accomplishment, regret that there seemed no prospect of narrow work

a few minutes later when they drew up before the wall in front of Fleetwood house,-of which Hal knew the location,

acant, or surely the knocking on the wooden gate would have brought forth its occupant. It seemed as if the house was deserted, and Hal had a sudden inward sense of unexpected obstacle, perhaps insuperable, in his way. His heart beat a little more rapidly,

hed the gate; steps were heard on the walk within; finally a little wicket was opened in the ga

this manner?" asked a nasal voice,

er Harry Marryott, Sir Valentine's friend. I must see Sir Va

r," replied the man of dismal countenance. His face had the crow's feet and th

devil-open me the gate this instant or I'l

d Anthony, severely. "I shall go decently and in order, and learn if thou m

afoot he called after the man, and hammered on the g

rfeit soldier!" observed Kit Bottle, i

ed ties, he serveth a Catholic master. The old groaner,-that he s

nature of his business. The captain received it w

thy voice, and get off thy horse, and hold him ready for another to mount in thy stead. A hundred curses on that Tony Underhill! He hath been Sir Valentine's steward so long, he dareth any impertinence. And yet he never stayed me

was of quick divination, "where be their horses? They would scarce

thing were amiss," replied

s time the gate was unbarred and slowly drawn a little space open. In the lantho

pped forward with an exclamation of relief and pleasure, and

staircase that ascended athwart the rear, and thence along a corridor, to the la

ble, among other things, lay an ivory crucifix. A plainly dressed gentleman sat on a chair between the table and the bed

al, looking up, perceived that this was not Sir Valentine, but a pale, watchful-l

welcome

to the bed. "Sir Valentine,

have been abed these two days, with promise from my good

east, Sir Valentine," said the physician

y," explained Sir Valentine, feebly, and p

er aid and hasten his departure from the country," her Majesty had said; and Hal had taken her money, and by his promise, by her trust in

not to be so si