ch. The learned man of the Sorbonne noted at once that he
quoted (and mixed) words of the Genevan Version common among the
Huguenots.

"He speaks French, this good lad?" he asked, turning to Claire.

"Yes, when it pleases him, which is not always--though indeed he always
obeys me. Is it not so, Jock?"

"My name is not Jock! Nowise--as you well do know. I am called Blastus
of the Zamzummims! Against all Armenians, Hussites, Papishers,
Anabaptists, Leaguers, and followers of the high, the low, and the
middle way, I lift up my heel. I am a bird of fair plumage on the
mountains of Zepher. I fly--I mount--I soar----"

"Go and find four horses," said his mistress; "two of them good and
strong, one Spanish jennet for me, one Flanders mare for yourself and
the saddle-bags."

The Bird of Fair Plumage scratched his long reddish locks in a sort of
comic perplexity.

"Am I to steal them or pay for them?" he said.

"Pay, of course," said his mistress, scandalised.

"That will leave our purse very light--the purse that was your father's.
It were easier these days, and also more just to spoil the Egyptians.
The lion-like man of Moab, which is the Duke of Guise, walketh about
like the devil roaring (as sayeth Peter), and because of the barricades
there are many good horses tied by their bridles at the gates of the
city--masterless, all of them."

"Pay for them, do you hear?" said Claire; "do not stand arguing with
your master's daughter. I thought you had learned that long ago."

Blastus of the Zamzummims went out grumbling to himself.

"At least she said nothing about cheating--or clipped money, or bad
money--or money from the Pope's mint. I will buy, and I will pay for
all. Yes--yes--but----"

It was obvious that Jock of the Cabbage's hope of spoiling Egypt had not
been properly rooted out of his mind even by his mistress's commands.

A strange soul dwelt in this Jock of the Cabbage. He was the son of a
reputable Scottish refugee at Geneva, from whom he had sucked in, as a
frog does the autumn rains, the strongest and purest Calvinistic
doctrine. He had, however, early perceived that his ludicrous personal
appearance prevented him from obtaining eminence as a preacher.

He had therefore chosen another way of being useful.

John Stirling had deliberately made himself Cabbage Jock--which is to
say, "Jean-aux-Choux," and by that name was famous alike in the camps of
Henri of Navarre, and in making sport for the "mignon