ors of the Red Deer. A cosey place it was, despite the
wine-bibbers that did profane it; and the inn-keeper's wife, a most
buxom, eye-pleasing wench, with three sturdy boys aye clambering about
her. As I looked, some hard and sinful thoughts did visit my heart
concerning the bounty that the Lord had lavished upon one who was a
barterer of wine, when I, who had lived ever a temperate and (in so far
as was in my power) a godly life, should remain childless. But I did
conquer at last, bidding Satan get behind me, and was left in peace to
toast my feet, and to ponder as to who it was that my lady had sent me
thither to mark. Had I not loved my lady with all my heart, methinks I
could not have stood the terms that were heaped upon me by the brawlers.
I will not repeat the foul slanders; suffice it to say, I sustained for
one half hour what few men are called upon to endure throughout a
lifetime.

At last, the newness being gone, they left me in peace, and I, being
settled safely in my corner, did set to work to watch the door.

Who should enter at that very moment but my Lord Denbeigh! He was
wrapped in a long brown cloak, and wore a broad hat, unornamented by
plume or buckle, pulled down over his eyes. He came and tossed himself
into a chair near the fire, and sat there pondering upon the coals, with
his legs out in front of him. Now, I have ever had a woman-weakness for
a goodly leg in man, and the splendid limbs of Lord Denbeigh did witch
me into a steadier gaze than that which civility doth permit. This
by-and-by he did notice, and so spoke to me.

"At what art thou staring, ancient?" quoth he, not unkindly. So I told
him, whereupon he laughed somewhat.

"Methinks thou art but a doting body," he said, "and yet is thy face
familiar. What now? Hast thou e'er met with me before?"

Then did I lie right roundly, being, to confess the truth, not a little
afraid.

"Out on thee," saith his lordship; "the truth is not in thee. I ne'er
forget a face; how, then, shall I forget a face such as thine? Certes I
have seen thee before. Wilt thou colt me?"

And again lied I--blackly, most abominably.

"As thou wilt," quoth he; "but thy face is known to me, for all that."

It was at this time that the door opened again, and there did enter a
stripling, clad all in dark maroon velvet, wrapped also about with a
long cloak, and having a velvet bonnet pulled down over his brows i' th'
manner o' Lord Denbeigh's. One could see naught o