ursed if this does not sound like truth," said the boy, and his eyes
were almost friendly.

But Talbot did not relax.

"By your own confession you are outside the pale of gentility. I do not
trouble to blame you, but I take leave to despise you. By your grace,
sir, we will dispense with your company."

The ice of his scorn did not chill the strange emotion which seemed
to have entered the air. The scarecrow by the fire had won a kind of
dignity.

"I am going," he said. "Will you have the goodness to send for my
horse?. .. If you care to know, gentleman, you have cut short a
promising career. .. To much of what you say I submit. You have spoken
truth--not all the truth, but sufficient to unman me. I am a rogue by
your reckoning, for I think only of my wages. Pray tell me what moves
you to ride out on what at the best is a desperate venture?"

There was nothing but sincerity in the voice, and Talbot answered.

"I fight for the King ordained by God and for a land which cannot
flourish under the usurper. My loyalty to throne, Church, and fatherland
constrains me."

Lovel's eye passed to Lord Charles. The Highlander whistled very softly
a bar or two of a wild melody with longing and a poignant sorrow in it.

"That," he said. "I fight for the old ways and the old days that are
passing."

Nick Wogan smiled. "And I for neither--wholly. I have a little of Talbot
in me and more of Charles. But I strike my blow for romance--the little
against the big, the noble few against the base many. I am for youth
against all dull huckstering things."

Mr. Lovel bowed. "I am answered. I congratulate you, gentlemen, on your
good fortune. It is my grief that I do not share it. I have not Mr.
Talbot's politics, nor am I a great Scotch lord, nor have I the felicity
to be young.... I would beg you not to judge me harshly."

By this time he had struggled into his coat and boots He stepped to the
table and picked up the papers.

"By your leave," he said, and flung them into the fire.

"You were welcome to them," said Talbot. "Long ere they got to
Marlborough they would be useless."

"That is scarcely the point," said Lovel "I am somewhat dissatisfied
with my calling and contemplate a change."

"You may sleep here if you wish," said Lord Charles.

"I thank you, but I am no fit company for you. I am better on the road."

Talbot took a guinea from his purse "Here's to help your journey," he
was saying, when Nick Wogan flushing dark