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！"