on the table.

"Send two of the men up here," he said, as an attendant entered.

A minute later a door opened, and two soldiers came in, and saluted.
One of them, to Oswald's amusement, was the man with whom he had
exchanged words, below.

"You will accompany this gentleman to the Golden Rose, and bring back
two horses, which he will hand over to you, and place them in the
stables with mine.

"Are you sure, Master Forster, that there is nothing more that I can do
for you?"

"Nothing, whatever, I thank you, sir; and I am greatly obliged by your
courtesy, and with your permission I will take my leave. I hope to
return here in the course of a week, or ten days."

So saying, Oswald shook hands with the governor and went downstairs,
followed by the soldiers, who had not yet recovered from their surprise
at seeing Oswald seated, and evidently on familiar terms with their
lord. Oswald said nothing to them, until he arrived at the Golden Rose.
Then he led the way to the stables, and handed the horses over to them.

"I suppose that that pulling of the ear will be deferred, for a time?"
he said, with a smile, to the soldier who had made the remark.

The man sheepishly took hold of the bridle.

"I could not tell, sir--" he began.

"Of course you could not," Oswald interrupted. "Still, it may be a
lesson, to you, that it is just as well not to make fun of people,
until you are quite sure who they are. There, I bear no malice; get
yourselves a stoup of wine, in payment for your services."

"I thought that there was something out of the way about him," the
other man said, as they walked up the street with the two horses; "or
he would never have turned upon you, as he did. It is evident that he
is someone of consequence, and is here on some secret business or
other, with Sir Philip. It is well that he did not bear malice, for you
would have got it hot, from the governor, had he reported what you said
to him."

Chapter 6: At Dunbar.

The journey passed without any incident of importance, but Oswald had
reason to congratulate himself on having taken the monk with him. On
one occasion, as they were passing over a wild heath, a party of eight
or ten men, on rough ponies, rode up. They were armed with spears and
swords. They reined up with exclamations of disappointment as Roger,
who had rolled up his robe round his waist, for convenience of walking,
let it fall round him.

"You have played us a scurvy trick, monk,