My taciturnity and quiescence, however, did not avail me, for one of
these fellows coming over to the hearth to light his pipe, perceived me,
and looking me very hard in the face, he said:

'What countryman are you, brother, that you sit with a covered head in
the room with the prince's soldiers?'

At the same time he tossed my hat off my head into the fire. I was not
fool enough, though somewhat hot-blooded, to suffer the insolence of
this fellow to involve me in a broil so dangerous to my person and
ruinous to my schemes as a riot with these soldiers must prove. I
therefore, quietly taking up my hat and shaking the ashes out of it,
observed:

'Sir, I crave your pardon if I have offended you. I am a stranger in
these quarters, and a poor, ignorant, humble man, desiring only to drive
my little trade in peace, so far as that may be done in these troublous
times.'

'And what may your trade be?' said the same fellow.

'I am a travelling merchant,' I replied; 'and sell my wares as cheap as
any trader in the country.'

'Let us see them forthwith,' said he; 'mayhap I or my comrades may want
something which you can supply. Where is thy chest, friend? Thou shalt
have ready money' (winking at his companions), 'ready money, and good
weight, and sound metal; none of your rascally pinchbeck. Eh, my lads?
Bring forth the goods, and let us see.'

Thus urged, I should have betrayed myself had I hesitated to do as
required; and anxious, upon any terms, to quiet these turbulent men
of war, I unbuckled my pack and exhibited its contents upon the table
before them.

'A pair of lace ruffles, by the Lord!' said one, unceremoniously seizing
upon the articles he named.

'A phial of perfume,' continued another, tumbling over the farrago which
I had submitted to them, 'wash-balls, combs, stationery, slippers, small
knives, tobacco; by ----, this merchant is a prize! Mark me, honest
fellow, the man who wrongs thee shall suffer--'fore Gad he shall; thou
shalt be fairly dealt with' (this he said while in the act of pocketing
a small silver tobacco-box, the most valuable article in the lot). 'You
shall come with me to head-quarters; the captain will deal with you,
and never haggle about the price. I promise thee his good will, and thou
wilt consider me accordingly. You'll find him a profitable customer--he
has money without end, and throws it about like a gentleman. If so be as
I tell thee, I shall expect, and my comrades here, a pie