The Great Mogul

pt, and no

ound

eare, "

rmost of the rabble near St. Dunstan's. Anger made him red, and alarm made him

waylaid in the Strand by a number of young profligates aping Rochester's license, was not to be endured. Therefore, Sir Thomas flushed like a turkey

girls. The royal prerogative, already in grave dispute, was sadly abused by this disorder, and Gondomar was well fitted, by diplomatic skill and political acumen, to make the most of the incident. When Sir Thomas thought of the

tural dread of the King's wrath soon yielded to indignation. He found there not only Anna and Eleanor, but Wal

saved. He swore roundly that he had been separated from them by a trick, and admitted that the King

ll in the great sea-fight against the Spanish Arm

n he died. Yet my mother taught me to regard all Spaniards as f

I knew him well. Were there more of the like to-day these graceless rogues would not treat as courtez

hip Master Roger Sainton, of

sain (wholesome) and I trow he weighe

rtee, waited until the laugh raise

or," said he, glancing plainly at the row o

iversion afforded by the claims of hospitality. "Zounds! He

st hour, had escaped to their apartments, whence they sent the excuse that they were engag

about this time, were emphatic in their advice that Mowbray and Sainton should not attempt to traverse the Strand

the pair of you to be haled before him after Gondomar had poisoned his mind you

I broke the peace,"

chester). No, no, my lads, bide ye in the city until such time as inquiry shall be made with due circumspection. The King hath a good heart and a sound understanding, and

man Cave, with the intelligence that Gondomar, summoned from play at Beaujeu's, had rid

lers' nags and pack-horses were stabled. Hence, ere supper was served, Walter wore garments of livelie

was offered them. For all they could tell to the contrary the Marquis of Bath and Sir Harry

Beeston, who seemed to resent the part played i

ed Anna, tartly. The hit was, perhaps, unworthy of her wonted

ply, and Sir Thomas took up

-draper of the city is better able to safeguard his wife

father," said she, "nor do I s

t vexed with young Master Beeston b

remained silent. No girl likes love-making in public. Anna seemingly paid no

aking out into a diatribe on the virtues of the knight's Brown Devon ale. Mowbray, too, seein

resist, if resistance were thought of. She was dressed in simple white. Her hair, plaited in the Dutch style, was tied with a

ic values. Judging by appearances, he thought that the house of Roe was not so well endowed with wealth as the house of Cave. He did not find the drawback am

et an arrangement which threatened to lea

, rising suddenly when a waiting-man produced a dus

," she cried. "Will you not join Nellie and me in the garden,

a display of spirit, "though Venus may be

id Sir Thomas confidentially, "and nev

il she woos thee. Gad, a woman plagues a man sufficiently afte

n, its size would render the ailmen

rgrown, hath the consistency of hide," he answered, a

ith the two girls into the small public garden which faced the

shion in Wensleydale

commend itself anywhere. Certes, I have o

etort told Anna that although Mowbray ca

he inclination to make some one suffe

you seek advancement at c

d me to travel hither, in the hope that my distant kinsman, the Earl of Beverley, might procure me the captaincy of a tr

d not been in London an hour ere you stormed Gondomar's h

but Mistress Sainton will clap her hands and cry, 'Mercy o' me! what manner o' fules b

eir lips; it aided Eleanor in no small degree to hide the blush which

half, thought that this young spark's

rry Revel told me he wished us no indignity, so, perchance, you

. When I meet the fop

et my banter. It would ill requite your service were

Marquis of Bath. He is but a goose, though he

e in the daytime. A wall beyond, with foliage peeping over it, showed that another smaller enclosure, be

persons near at hand indistinct. Their voices must have given warning of their coming,

nd Nellie! But whom

ould have resented the newcomer'

brot

quickly i

ding, no less than the help he rendered so freely to-day

tness of his challenge that Mowbray wondered how it happened that so elegant and

ad not been discoursing five minutes before he discovered that Sir Tho

did not escape him, and, although there was no actual pairing off, he found littl

, if Master Mowbray's confusion were inexplicable, what subtle craft can dissipate the mystery of Nellie Roe's change of manner? From being shy, she became pert. She seemed to pass with a bound from demure girlhood to delightful womanhood. When Walter strove to rally her with an apt retort she overwhelmed him with a dozen. Her eyes met his and look

is mate. Somehow, the wondrous discovery, though it thrilled his very soul, sobered his thoughts. And then, with quick alternation of mood, he found his tongue again,

arts are virginal: they are old

er drawing nearer until a rounded arm touched by chance was now pressed with reassuring confidence, they coul

t bravely carried off the situation by vowin

gh in order to hide the nervous break in her voice. "Not content with that, he must need add that he hopes to discover the limits of th

oon?" cried Eleanor, disengaging her a

ur after-supper stroll to ask your fair gossip for some token which should cheer m

uch keepsake from a lady whom I honor most highly I would se

safest outlet for her emotions. "Yet, lest it be said that I would restrain young gentlemen of spirit who would fain

al object which was fastened by a tiny gold chain around her

Olliver," she added hastily, "and, from what I know of h

our own portra

woman give you the

wished me well a

is Master Olliver?" whis

repute is such that to procure one of his miniat

being an artist, he would bes

inting, and there is no telling what topic Walter would have pursued with Eleanor, his dumbness having passed away wholly, had

t, until he was upon them, that the indi

, "Master Mowbray, an you be in

m. Is aug

et I left your good frie

are acquainted," intervened Anna, in the clear, cold

A

e-minded to seek a quarrel with a rival at that moment. Gulping ba

he other a maniac of monstrous growth, who committed grave default to-day without the confines of the city. The requisition is made in proper form, under his

t be obeyed. What sayeth Si

that Gondomar has poisoned the King's mind

at those he sought had better be absent. Unhappily, Sir Thomas Cave would not be pleased by my

dear, how this can

at sent a thrill of joy through one listener at least. Unn

t. Even Beeston, who would gladly have run him throug

er, and I shall conduct them both to a place of safety. None need know of my presence here

to receive it, when these Yorkshire ge

"for Sir Thomas Roe sails forthwith for the Spanish main. Come

inking no harm in helping Nellie by

disorder of frightened domestics. The kni

ng the bushes and gilliflowers when men's lives are at sta

ay, wishful to cut short any discu

you demand fair trial, yet anger not the King by repartee. He is fair enough when the harpies about him leave him to his pleasure. I have some little favor at court. It shall be exerted t

entleman. "Friend Mowbray and I can win our way out of London as we won our way into it. Methinks 'tis a p

onsciously given by Roge

ay to see you again. Farewell, Mistress Anna. Come, Rog

u hie yourselves at this

and that is a point gained. Fo

leanor Roe around the waist and kissed her on the lips. She was so taken by surprise tha

"I shall see you again, if all the

le a loud knocking disturbed the quietude of th