saddle and bridle?"
"These are borrowed from a friend, Master Droop," said Bacon. "These
rascals know this, else had they seized them in execution."
"Ah, but won't they seize your clothes, Brother Bacon?" said Droop,
slyly.
"Nay--that were unlawful. A man's attire is free from process of
execution."
"I'll tell ye wherein I'll go ye," said Droop, with sudden animation.
"You give me that certificate, that bill of sale, you mentioned, and
also a first-class letter to some lord or political chap with a pull at
the Patent Office, an' I'll change clothes with ye an' fool them bailiff
chaps."
"I'll e'en take your former offer, then," said Bacon, with a sigh. "One
fourth part of all profits was the proposal, was it not?"
"Oh, that's all off!" said Droop, grandly, with a wave of the hand. "If
I go out an' risk my neck in them skin-tight duds o' yourn, I get the
hull profits an' you get to London safe an' sound in these New Hampshire
pants."
"But, good sir----"
"Take it or leave it, friend."
"Well," said Bacon, angrily, after a few moments' hesitation, "have your
will. Give me ink, pen, and paper."
These being produced, the barrister curiously examined the wooden
penholder and steel pen.
"Why, Master Droop," he said, "from what unknown bird have you plucked
forth this feather?"
"Feather!" Droop exclaimed. "What feather?"
"Why this?" Bacon held up the pen and holder.
"That ain't a feather. It's a pen-holder an' a steel pen, man. Say!" he
exclaimed, leaning forward suddenly. "Ye hain't ben drinkin', hev ye?"
To this Bacon only replied by a dignified stare and turned in silence to
the table.
"Which you agoin' to write first," said Droop, considerately dropping
the question he had raised.
"The bill of sale."
"All right. I'd like to have ye put the one about the patent real
strong. I don't want to fail on the fust try, you know."
Bacon made no reply, but dipped his pen and set to work. In due time the
two documents were indited and carefully signed.
"This letter is addressed to my uncle, Lord Burleigh," said Bacon. "He
is at the Palace at Greenwich, with the Queen."
"Shall I hev to take it to him myself?"
"Assuredly."
"Might hev trouble findin' him, I should think," said Droop.
"Mayhap. On more thought, 'twere better you had a guide. I know a worthy
gentleman--one of the Queen's harbingers. Take you this letter to him,
for which purpose I will e'en leave it unsealed that he may
|