Simon Dale

, well-proportioned, and with a thin face, clean-cut and high-featured. He was attended by a servant whom he called Robert, a stout ruddy fellow, who was very jovial with every post-boy and

and prospects, keeping back nothing save the mention of Cydaria. Mr Darrell was, or affected to be, astonished to learn that I was a stranger to London-my air smacked of the Mall and of no other spot in the world, he swore most politely-but made haste to offer me his services, proposing that, since Lord Arlington did not look for him that night, and he had abandoned his former lodging, we should lodge together at an inn he named in Covent Garden, when he could introduce me to some pleasant company. I accepted his offer most eagerl

is no fairer lady at Court

istress Barbara and I were old f

uld refuse many more suitors, and a nobleman of great estate is now si

o engrossed me that soon I harked back to them, and, taking my courage in both hands, was about to ask my co

hurchman, si

erhaps a bit of a stare. "What did you conc

uestion," he answered, laughing. "There are

rnt that to its sorr

again." And without more he fell to describing the famo

. Take a companion or two with you when you walk east of Temple Bar. By the way, sir, if the question may be p

cement to a woman's influence, and my manly pride disdained to own the obligation. I put him off by a story of a friend who wished

by the name of Cydaria?" said I. I fear my cheek flushed a li

ng his hand on his thigh, cried, "By my faith, yes; I was sure I had heard it. It is a name

I nodded, concealin

t every man can remember for himself-his first sight of the greatest city in the world, with its endless houses and swarming people. It made me still and silent as we clattered along, and I forgot my companion until I chanced

e treasure-house for a man

at I should hold my own very well. The first lesson I learnt was not to show any wonder that I might feel, but to receive all that chanced as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world; for this, beyond all, is the hall-mark of your quality. Indeed, it was well that I was so far

t on the evening and wondering at what time it was proper for me to seek my b

and to-night to carry you with me to an entertainment for which I have received an invitat

For I had provided myself with a neat and proper suit, of which I was very far from ashamed, and which, when as

"and that I can myself provide. Come, let us ca

very stately gentleman. These, however, being at the other end of the table, I made no acquaintance with them, and contented myself with listening to the conversation of my neighbours, putting in a word where I seemed able with propriety and without displaying an ignorance of which I was very sensible. It seemed to me that Lord Carford, to whom I had not been formally presented (indeed, all talked to one another without ceremony) received what I said with more than sufficient haughtiness and distance; but on Darrell whispering humorously that he was a great lord, and held

s to the women; they have but to ask to have. I prayed the King to give me for a cousin of mine a place in the Life Guards that was to

disturbance. Darrell also, as I perceived, was very uneasy, and made a hasty e

py man, that is Mistress Nell

y," returned the Earl; "hi

trust that I looked cool enou

ormed. I have the best o

r," he retorted with a stare

Guards, and my name is Dale," said I, restraining myself

happy man," sneered Carford.

arford," inter

dmother," s

ercely, although by now a great fear had com

I'm not misinf

ugh I had not been wont to sw

. Carford's face went red when I gave him the lie so directly and the more fiercely because, to my sham

ll beg of you to confess your error

t into

avour from such a hand, I wouldn'

meaning; but he, choosing to treat me with insolence, did not ri

did all the company. Darrell caught me by the arm and held me fast. Jermyn was by Carford's side. I hardly knew what passed, being much upset by the sudden quarrel, and yet more by the idea, that Carford's words had

low voice. "I'll arrange everythin

in a half-amazed state. I gave little thought to the quarrel or to the meeting that awaited me. My mind was engrossed with the revelation to which I had listened. I doubted it still; nay, I would not believe it. Yet whence came the story unless it were true? And it seemed to f

ng been brought-I called in courtesy for a second glass and invited him to join me, he shook his head sourly. Yet presently he closed his book, which I now perceived to be a Bible, and fixed an earnest gaze on me. He was a strange-looking fellow; his face was very thin and lon

"Yet wickedness is not put away, and lewdness vaunt

ine and made no answer. I had enough to think of,

raises its head again," he went o

To many it seems as if they were only receiving what they gave." For t

ued, "and all men shall see the working of His

"I would not talk thus before stra

few moments; then, leaning acro

ed in time; fight on the Lord's side, and no

nefices; but this fellow seemed more crazy than any I had seen: though, indeed, I must confess there was a full measure of truth, if not of charity, in the de

e very rig

is Phin

," said I, yawning; "but I can't alter

ds that he must hear," he retorted wi

our beds," said I, smil

e here. To-morrow I

rang after me, crying, "Remember, the time is short"; and I doubt whether I should have got rid of him had not Darrell at that m

haven't you left this acc

e Ranter sternly, "even as those

th a shrug; and, seeing that I was puzzled, he added, "Mr Ta

ld church." For I remembered with confusion a careles

said he

"You-and your maste

ace grew st

on's name," he said. "You know well that he is not of the Roman f

d Tate, with an

ger. "I have much to say to my friend, and

aving us, and, gathering up

himself laid by the heels before long. Well, I

hear about. I came to him as he sat down at the tabl

it t

ith great kindness,

, taken with your description of her, gave me no room for doubt. Yet I hoped that it might not be as I feared, or, at least, that the thing co

g for the quar

old you that Mistress Quinton had a noble suitor. And he is high in her favour and higher yet in

of an actress's face or chose a fair lady for their champion. I hope, indeed, that the end sanctified the means; they had great need of that final justification. Castlemaine and Nell Gwyn-had we not all read and heard and gossiped of them? Our own Vicar had spoken to me of Nell, and would not speak too harshly, for Nell was Protestant. Yes, Nell, so please you, was Protestant. And other grave divines forgave her half her sins because she flouted most openly and with pert wit the other lady, who was suspected of an inclination towards Rome and an intention to charm the King into the true Church's b

ugh it is not a good quarrel," and he shook

and after that-if there be an

our commissio

uch of haughtiness. "You don't think that I co

saying with a smil

y. Not one in ten would

" said I. "It was in the co