the present occasion they were obvious,
even before he opened his lips to speak. When Arundel had concluded,
he waited for the comments of the Deputy, nor had he to wait long.
First, however, Dudley inquired,

"Is there nothing more thou wouldst communicate?"

"If there be any thing of importance or of public concern omitted, it
is done unwittingly," said Arundel.

"Then is thy news most jejune and unsatisfactory, seeing that our
condition is neither war nor peace, but of sort of armed truce, liable
to be broken at any moment by these treacherous savages. I am not to
be deceived by the promise, that, for the present, we need fear no
hostilities. I know their craft. If they refuse formally to make
peace, they are preparing for war. Well, they may try their hand. But
I am disappointed in the opinion I had of the extent of the influence,
by some means acquired, over the Indians by this Sir Christopher
Gardiner, if he indeed have authority to bear the title."

"Who dares to say," exclaimed Arundel, whose irritation this fresh
taunt increased, "that Sir Christopher assumes a title which belongs
not to him, or to asperse in any respect his character?"

"It will come to light," said Dudley, "in its own time; but tell me
now, wherefore made not the Knight, as you choose to call him, his
appearance himself? Methinks such proceeding were more respectful to
the authority which commissioned him."

The brow of the young man flushed at the rude speech, and it was with
difficulty that he restrained his feelings; but he succeeded so far as
to reply with an appearance of tolerable calmness, that it was only
that morning they had returned, and that the Knight purposed to
present himself on the morrow, being detained for the present by
reasons which doubtless ought to be satisfactory.

"It were strange," said the surly Dudley, "if his private affairs
should be of more importance than the interests of our Commonwealth;
and yet it seems that the former do, in his estimation, outweigh the
latter."

"I pray of your goodness to pardon the fault," said Arundel, who was
determined that nothing should provoke his anger again that day. "Sure
am I that, had the Knight of the Golden Melice known the importance
attached to his presence, he had come forthwith, without stopping for
rest, or to change his soiled garments, instead of sending me, his
unfortunate and most unworthy substitute."

"I like not this fantastic title," said Dudley, wh