ower," said Eviot, "to save my master
from a draught which may be his death, and your Grace from the sense
that you had occasioned it. But here is one who will perform the feat of
goodwill, and thank your Highness to boot."

"Whom have we here?" said the Prince, "a butcher, and I think fresh from
his office. Do butchers ply their craft on Fastern's Eve? Foh, how he
smells of blood!"

This was spoken of Bonthron, who, partly surprised at the tumult in the
house, where he had expected to find all dark and silent, and partly
stupid through the wine which the wretch had drunk in great quantities,
stood in the threshold of the door, staring at the scene before him,
with his buff coat splashed with blood, and a bloody axe in his hand,
exhibiting a ghastly and disgusting spectacle to the revellers, who
felt, though they could not tell why, fear as well as dislike at his
presence.

As they approached the calabash to this ungainly and truculent looking
savage, and as he extended a hand soiled as it seemed with blood, to
grasp it, the Prince called out:

"Downstairs with him! let not the wretch drink in our presence; find him
some other vessel than our holy calabash, the emblem of our revels: a
swine's trough were best, if it could be come by. Away with him! let him
be drenched to purpose, in atonement for his master's sobriety. Leave me
alone with Sir John Ramorny and his page; by my honour, I like not yon
ruffian's looks."

The attendants of the Prince left the apartment, and Eviot alone
remained.

"I fear," said the Prince, approaching the bed in different form from
that which he had hitherto used--"I fear, my dear Sir John, that this
visit has been unwelcome; but it is your own fault. Although you know
our old wont, and were your self participant of our schemes for the
evening, you have not come near us since St. Valentine's; it is now
Fastern's Even, and the desertion is flat disobedience and treason to
our kingdom of mirth and the statutes of the calabash."

Ramorny raised his head, and fixed a wavering eye upon the Prince; then
signed to Eviot to give him something to drink. A large cup of ptisan
was presented by the page, which the sick man swallowed with eager and
trembling haste. He then repeatedly used the stimulating essence left
for the purpose by the leech, and seemed to collect his scattered
senses.

"Let me feel your pulse, dear Ramorny," said the Prince; "I know
something of that craft. How! Do your of