to speak; at last he replied: "To be candid with you, I am, and
all my family have been, followers of the Beverley family, and I should
be sorry if the colonel's sword was to fall into any other hands. I
think, therefore, if I pay the bill which is due, you may safely let me
hold the sword as a security for the money, with the express
understanding that if it is ever claimed by the Beverley family, I am to
give it up."

"Certainly," said Oswald; "nothing can be fairer or more clearly put."

"I think so, too, young man," replied the shopkeeper. "Of course, you
will leave your name and address?"

"Yes; and my friend here will vouch for its being correct," replied
Edward.

The shopkeeper then produced the account, which Edward paid; and giving
on the paper the name of Edward Armitage, he took possession of the
sword. He then paid for the powder and lead, which Oswald took charge
of, and, hardly able to conceal his joy, hastened out of the shop.

"Oswald," cried Edward, "I would not part with it for thousands of
pounds. I never will part with it but with my life."

"I believe so," replied Oswald; "and I believe more, that it will never
be disgraced in your hands; but do not talk so loud, for there are
listeners and spies everywhere. Is there anything else that you
require?"

"No, I think not; the fact is that this sword has put everything out of
my head. If there was anything else I have forgotten it. Let us go
back to the inn, and we will harness the pony, and call for the flour
and oatmeal."

When they arrived at the inn, Oswald went out to the yard to get the
cart ready, while Edward went into the landlord's room to make inquiries
as to the quantity of venison he would be able to take off his hands at
a time. Oswald had taken the sword from Edward, and had put it in the
cart while he was fastening the harness, when a man came up to the cart,
and looked earnestly at the sword. He then examined it, and said to
Oswald:

"Why, that was Colonel Beverley's, my old master's, sword. I knowed it
again directly. I took it to Phillips, the gunmaker, to be cleaned."

"Indeed!" replied Oswald; "I pray what may be your name?"

"Benjamin White," replied the man; "I served at Arnwood till the night
it was burned down; and I have been here ever since."

"And what are you doing now?"

"I'm tapster at the `Commonwealth,' in Fish Street--not much of a
place."

"Well, well, you stand by the pony, and look that no