I met in all my vagabond days. Barring his primness he would
have proved a gallant"--he was going to say "pirate," but paused in
time and said "seaman." "God pardon him for a Puritan," he went on,
"for he has in him the making of a rare Cavalier."

Brilliana turned to Tiffany, whose cheeks were very red.

"Hang your head, child," she cried; "for you are outvoted in a
parliament of praise. Beat a retreat, maid Tiffany."

The crimson Tiffany fled from the pleasaunce.

"Where is your prisoner?" Brilliana asked.

"I have envoyed him over park and garden," Halfman answered, "and
brought him to port in the library."

"Alas! I pity him," sighed Brilliana; "it holds few books of
divinity. But come, recruiting-sergeant, what of our volunteers?"

"So pleases you, my lady," Halfman said, "our troop is swelling fast,
and the sooner we clap them into colored coats the better."

Brilliana's curls danced in denial.

"Alas! friend, I have sad news for you. Of cloth for coats I can
indeed command a great plenty"--she paused doubtfully.

"Why this is glad news, not sad news," Halfman said. "So may you
serve it out with all despatch."

Brilliana dropped her hands to her sides and her lids over her eyes,
a pretty picture of despair; but, "Alas! 'tis all white," she
confessed--"wool white, snow white, ermine white. You must needs have
patience, good recruiting-sergeant, till I can have it dyed the royal
red."

Halfman pushed patience from him with outspread palms.

"Shall the King lack hands for lack of madder?" he questioned, with
humorous indignation. "Not so, I pray you; let us cut our coats from
your white cloth. I promise you we will dye it ourselves red enough
in the blood of the enemy." Brilliana sprang to her feet rejoicing.

"Bravely said; so shall it be bravely done. I will give orders at
once for the cutting and sewing. I will back our white coats against
Master Hampden's green coats, or Essex's swarm in orange-tawny. Have
you conveyed my message to my two miserly neighbors?"

"I sent Clupp to Master Hungerford," Halfman answered, "and Garlinge
to Master Rainham, bidding them to your presence peremptory. But I
warn you, my lady, from all I hear, that if you hope to raise coin
for the King's cause from either of the skinflints you will be sadly
at a loss."

"At least I must try," Brilliana declared. "Am I not the King's
viceroy in Oxfordshire, and are not the two money-bags my proclaimed
adorers? It will go ha