forward, my young friend."

De Guerre signified his consent, and walked, closely followed by Robin,
at the stranger's side.

"And so," observed the horseman, turning to the Ranger, "you are
accompanying us, uninvited, on our way. Wert thou ever engaged in any of
the mummeries of Satan, denominated stage plays? Of all the tricks
learned at courts, that of _tumbling_ is the most dangerous; and as thy
master, Sir Willmott Burrell, has not practised it yet, I am at a loss
to understand how thou couldst be so perfect."

"I have served many masters, sir, and am now out of employ," replied
Robin, whose ready wit appeared to have deserted him, and who kept as
near as possible to De Guerre.

"Thou sayest truly; and lest one of them may have a demand upon thee ere
morning, what say ye to wending onward to that unholy resort of
cavaliers and smugglers, called the Gull's Nest, and leaving us to
pursue our course unattended to Sir Robert Cecil?"

Robin bowed as respectfully as he could, and was about to whisper some
words to De Guerre, when the stranger added, in a stern voice,--

"On, on! no whispering."

Robin held up his hands, as if he would have said, "How can I help it?"
and sprang over the adjoining fence with his usual agility.

They proceeded some little time without speaking, De Guerre,
discontented with himself at the power his extraordinary companion so
strangely possessed over him, yet yielding to an influence against which
he felt it impossible to contend.

"And pray, sir," at length inquired the elder, "what news may be now
stirring in France? You have, I presume, but recently arrived from
thence?"

"I have been in France, but not lately."

"In the Netherlands, then? for I take it you are given to the carnal
follies of the times, and have been cherished in the heresies, religious
and political, propagated by a person or persons assuming a particular
rank, which the Almighty saw fitting to wrest from them now many days
past."

"I have not, as I think, been brought up in any heresy," replied the
youth, gently but firmly, "and I should be sorry so brave a gentleman
and so expert a swordsman thought so: though I do not feel myself bound
to give you any information touching my private opinions, which I hold
to be as distinctly my own property as my hat or sword----"

"And which," said the stranger, "is, perhaps, the only property you are
possessed of."

"Exactly so, sir; but persons of a lower estate tha