d; and I
have bought four serviceable horses for their use, together with a
horse to carry your baggage, but which will serve for your body
servant.

"I have not found a man for that office. I knew of no one who
would, as I thought, suit you; and in such a business it seemed to
me better that you should wait, and choose for yourself, for in the
matter of servants everyone has his fancies. Some like a silent
knave, while others prefer a merry one. Some like a tall proper
fellow, who can fight if needs be; others a staid man, who will do
his duty and hold his tongue, who can cook a good dinner and groom
a horse well. It is certain you will never find all virtues
combined. One man may be all that you wish, but he is a liar;
another helps himself; a third is too fond of the bottle. In this
matter, then, I did not care to take the responsibility, but have
left it for you to choose for yourself."

"I shall be more likely to make a mistake than you will, Monsieur
Bertram," Philip said with a laugh.

"Perhaps so, but then it will be your own mistake; and a man chafes
less, at the shortcomings of one whom he has chosen himself, than
at those of one who has, as it were, been forced upon him."

"Well, there will be no hurry in that matter," Philip said. "I can
get on well enough without a servant, for a time. Up to the
present, I have certainly never given a thought as to what kind of
man I should want as a servant; and I should like time to think
over a matter which is, from what you say, so important."

"Assuredly it is important, young sir. If you should take the
field, you will find that your comfort greatly depends upon it. A
sharp, active knave, who will ferret out good quarters for you,
turn you out a good meal from anything he can get hold of, bring
your horse up well groomed in the morning, and your armour brightly
polished; who will not lie to you overmuch, or rob you overmuch,
and who will only get drunk at times when you can spare his
services. Ah! He would be a treasure to you. But assuredly such a
man is not to be found every day."

"And of course," Marie put in, "in addition to what you have said,
Monsieur Bertram, it would be necessary that he should be one of
our religion, and fervent and strong in the faith."

"My dear lady, I was mentioning possibilities," the trader said.
"It is of course advisable that he should be a Huguenot, it is
certainly essential that he should not be a Papist; but beyond this