heard, he rode a simple archer in the Lord Neville's train. I warrant him a good lance and a bold, yet very straitened in his means, I fear me. He hath been at no charges, save for needful meat and drink, the three days he hath lain in my private chamber. Marry, had it not been for his follower-yonder roysterer, with whom your worship dealt so roundly but now-the 'Spur' had gained little by their custom. Nathless, I grudge him not house room, God wot. 'Tis a fair spoken knight, and a kindly; and mayhap he will tarry here some day, when he hath gotten both wealth and honour."

As they spoke, the armourer had approached unobserved, and struck in with scant ceremony.

"And is that Sir John Hawkwood ?—I am well pleased to have foregathered with him. My good-wife hath kinsfolk in the parts where he was born and bred. It was but the other day that her cousin told us of the wonderment and gladness at Hedingham, when they heard that their neighbour's son had won his spurs. 'Tis pity that the honest tanner lived not to look on his boy's face again; but he was in mortal sickness when the news came, and the great joy may well have hasted his end. The knight hath started fair, certes; yet he hath a brave long race yet to run, and there will be prizes worth the winning for such as keep him company. Had I to choose my service, I swear by Saint Benedict, I had liever ride under his pennon than under the broadest banner that flaunts in Flanders or Guienne."

Just then the inner door opened again, and the Italian re-entered the guest-chamber. On his smooth brow there was no vestige of cloud; and none but a very keen observer would have detected in his smile a covert sneer.

"I crave pardon of this goodly company "-he said, in a soft, slow voice, "for having broken off their drink and troubled their mirth. I did but jest with the damoiselle after my rough foreign fashion; and, had she not fled so suddenly, else had I made her amends before you all. I will take good heed so to offend no more. To you, gentle sir"-he bent low as he turned towards Ralph Brakespeare-" would I make special excuse in presence of Sir John Hawkwood, the knight I follow, if it will please you to visit him in his chamber."

Ralph bent his head; and, with a sign of intelligence to the armourer, went out with the Italian.

They came into a small chamber, dimly lighted by a single oillamp, and scantily furnished with a few rude lockers for arms and wearing apparel; two bed places let into recesses in the wall, after the

fashion still prevalent in parts of Scotland; and a heavy oaken table strewn with parchments and writing material, near which sat Sir John Hawkwood. As he arose to greet his visitor, there might have been noticed in his courtesy the stiffness and constraint of one who has had little practice in social forms and ceremonies: neither did he waste many words in preamble.

"It shames me much, fair sir," he said, "that the ill conduct of follower of mine should have drawn you into unseemly brawl; albeit you have dealt him a sharp lesson, for the which I thank you heartily. I know no more than it hath suited him to avow; but I guessed what happened, when I saw the glee-maiden cowering there. Sathanas needs but to take the shape of a dainty paramour, and Gian Malatesta will wend lightly wherever it lists the fiend to lead. Nevertheless, I have told him roundly that, if he proffer not such excuse as it may fit you to receive, he and I part this night. Twere a sorry jest if I, who but lately stood bareheaded in presence of captains, should suffer insolence towards their betters in such as ride with me."

'Tis scarce worth while to set down at length the Italian's apology; more especially as it imposed not altogether on him to whom it was addressed. Indeed, a vague feeling of dislike and distrust rather increased than abated in Brakespeare's breast; he cut the glib speaker short, so soon as he could do so without manifest discourtesy.

"I pray thee be less liberal in excuse, messire: enough has been said and to spare. Perchance little harm was meant ; and, as it chanced, none hath been done. 'Tis a fashion in my country, to strike hands after a tough wrestling bout, in token that no bad blood rankle; here is mine, if ye list to take it."

With great show of eagerness the Italian accepted the proffer; but their fingers were barely locked before they unclasped again, and Ralph turned away somewhat hastily

"There are graver matters concerning which I would speak to this knight, at his good leisure."

"There is no better time than now"-Hawkwood answered. "Leave us, Gian Malatesta; but go not far away, and keep thy brain as cool as thou canst; I may need thy help with this scrivener work ere I sleep."

When they were alone, Ralph stated his wishes briefly and bluntly; proffering for himself and Lanyon to take service in the French wars as man-at-arms and archer, whilst Hawkwood listened, leaning his brow on his hands, and half shading his face.

"How are ye called ?" he asked, without looking up.

When he heard the answer, he dropped his hand, and gazed steadily on the youth with his small, piercing eyes.

"Brakespeare?"-he said, doubtfully. "Tis an honest yeoman name, certes, like to the one I bear: yet right seldom worn by those of the degree to which, if I err not, thou belongest by birth, if not by fortune ?"

Ralph met the fixed look without blenching.

"I say not that they christened me so"-he answered; "but to none other name have I better claim, and by none other will I henceforth be known, whether I speed with you, sir knight, or no. Also, ye do greatly err in imputing to me higher estate than my name imports: there are merchants and franklins not a few in yon guestchamber, who if right were done, might sit higher at the board than I."

Sir John's lip curled with a quaint smile, sarcastic, yet not unkindly. "Good sooth, I marvel how the great folk of thy country apparel themselves, and what manner of gimmals they wear, when on the fingers of yeomen's sons shine fair balas rubies! Nay, be not wroth"-he went on, in a grave voice, marking the quick flush on Ralph's cheek ;-"I have no title to question thee. Rather take thou this my counsel: if on light incitement thou hast left thy home, repent thee in time; so shall thy fortunes not be marred in peevish fit; but, if there be weightier causes, and thou art in truth utterly adrift, then take service with some knight or baron of higher repute and larger means than I. Ill will it suit such as from youth upwards have lain soft, and lived delicately, to ride with plain John Hawkwood, whose worldly wealth-the accompt of which lies under mine hand— may scarce suffice for the furniture of three men-at-arms."

"Let that be no hindrance "-Ralph answered, with eagerness unwonted in him; "I bear gold pieces enow in this gipsire to purvey myself and my follower yonder, both with horse and armour. Nay, for that special purpose were they given to me. As for choosing another leader, the honest armourer whose surname I bear-albeit, I profess not to be of his kin-said, speaking of your worship but now : 'He hath a brave long race yet to run, and there will be prizes worth the winning for such as keep him company. Had I to choose my service, I had liever ride under his pennoncelle than under the broadest banner that flaunts in Flanders or Guienne.' Even so say I. Yet will

I thrust my service on none, and I may not gainsay your pleasure; so, if ye will have none of me and mine, I will cumber your time and chamber no more."

Now, John Hawkwood, though imbued with many of the high and generous qualities which are part and parcel of the heroic character, was by no means a hero of romance, either in disinterestedness or disregard of his own advantage-to which, indeed, as his later history shows, he had a marvellously keen eye. Here was a rare chance before him; and he was scarce likely to let it slip. Rising up, he laid his hand on the other's arm, as it were with a sudden impulse, which, if not natural, was excellently feigned.

“Nay, fair youth, we part not thus. It may be I have been over nice in this matter-specially since the king, our master, stands in sore need of thews and sinews like thine: thy follower, I guess, was yon brawny carle I saw but now, so eager to thrust himself between thee and harm at his own life's peril. Sith ye will have none of my counsel, I will take your frank proffer as frankly; and ye both shall be enrolled this night-thou as man-at-arms, he as archer. If ever I thrive, so as to maintain a household, we may speak of thine advancement to esquire's degree. In such a case, were it set to the proof, baseness of birth, I warrant me, would not be thy bar; though I choose not to pry further into what concerns me not nearly. Write thyself down as it lists thee: a man may fight well, God wot, under a worse name than thou hast chosen."

"Nay, not so"-the other made answer; "if you, sir knight, scruple not to attach to your person an unknown runagate, I were a very churl to be more niggardly of trust. Hearken, an' it please you, though 'tis scarce worth your while."

Then, very briefly and simply, for the second time that day, Ralph Brakespeare told his story to a stranger. But Hawkwood evidently thought it not wasted time, as he listened with marked interest: when it was ended, he shook his head with a compassion that may well have been real.

"'Tis a sad tale "-he said. "I know but little of the ways and fashions of knights and nobles; yet often hath it seemed to me that they deal with their own flesh and blood, more hardly than they deal with us of low estate. For what thou hast done I blame thee not now; nay, by the Rood, I think thou hast chosen thy part both wisely and well. I am right glad that all lies fair and open betwixt us two; thou dost not fear I should bewray thy secret? There is yet another matter troubles me: I know not how thou and Gian Malatesta will agree. Forsooth, I myself like him not hugely, and trust him no further than I would trust a sworn dicer and drabber; yet is the knave useful manywise. He speaketh three

tongues indifferently well, and, with good skill at all weapons, hath a special gift for ambushments and stratagems of war; moreover, when in the humour, or hardly pressed, he will fight like a very fiend; also, never a clerk or shaveling of them all can read and indite more deftly indeed, though he babbles not much concerning himself, even in his drink, from certain words he hath let drop, I guess him to have been cloister-bred, and to have broken bounds. Chiefly to this end did I yield to his desire, and suffer him to come hither in my company. I needed help in dealing with all this gear"-he pointed to the table strewn with parchments "for scrolls are but sealed books unto me. I have been seeking to turn into gold pieces the slender heritage that came to me but of late: marry, when the charges of my journey and the cost of these parchments are paid, my gipsire will be heavier by scarce a score of nobles. It may be that the Lombard and scrivener are cozening me, and that the Italian is in league with both; but I have no patience to dally longer here. Yet another three or four days, and we will be clear of English air: not on light cause, I wis, will I breathe it again."

"Let not that trouble your worship "-Ralph answered, cheerily, yet with a touch of scorn. "It is not like, indeed, that Messire Malatesta and I shall knit brotherhood in arms; nathless might we drink at the same board, and couch in the same tent, and ride under the same pennon for many a year, without either looking askance at the other. For all that you have seen to-night, I am not, in very truth, given to brawling, nor have I thus far found men hasty in picking quarrel."

"That can I well believe "-Hawkwood replied, smiling slightly; "and, though Gian Malatesta be a rank brawler when crossed or in drink, I have ever noted in him a certain shrewd wit in choosing such as may safely be overborne. Thou art not of these, as he has found out at cost of a rib's-ache; I dare aver he will mell with thee no more. Go now, I prithee, and send that same varlet hither to me: I must get forward with these matters to-night. And come with thy follower early to-morrow, that I may enrol your names, and give ye handsel of King Edward's wages. Then will we speak of purveying thee with horse and armour: in these times there is no lack of such gear ready to all men's hands."

With an obeisance that marked that he already held himself bound by new duties, Brakespeare went out; and, after delivering his message to the Italian, sat down to tell Will Lanyon and the armourer how he had sped.

The first-named took the news with his wonted placidity: it