what ye will, so that I may be here on your return. Indeed,
fair lady," he added, "bear this in mind, that we are sore bested, and
may never look upon each other's face from this night forward till we
die."

At this the young lady melted; and when, a little after, the bell
summoned Sir Daniel's household to the board, Dick was planted very
stiffly against the wall, at a place where a division in the tapestry
permitted him to breathe the more freely, and even to see into the room.

He had not been long in this position, when he was somewhat strangely
disturbed. The silence in that upper storey of the house, was only
broken by the flickering of the flames and the hissing of a green log
in the chimney; but presently, to Dick's strained hearing, there came
the sound of some one walking with extreme precaution; and soon after
the door opened, and a little black-faced, dwarfish fellow, in Lord
Shoreby's colours, pushed first his head, and then his crooked body,
into the chamber. His mouth was open, as though to hear the better; and
his eyes, which were very bright, flitted restlessly and swiftly to and
fro. He went round and round the room, striking here and there upon the
hangings; but Dick, by a miracle, escaped his notice. Then he looked
below the furniture, and examined the lamp; and, at last, with an air of
cruel disappointment, was preparing to go away as silently as he had
come, when down he dropped upon his knees, picked up something from
among the rushes on the floor, examined it, and, with every signal of
delight, concealed it in the wallet at his belt.

Dick's heart sank, for the object in question was a tassel from his own
girdle; and it was plain to him that this dwarfish spy, who took a
malign delight in his employment, would lose no time in bearing it to
his master, the baron. He was half tempted to throw aside the arras,
fall upon the scoundrel, and, at the risk of his life, remove the
tell-tale token. And while he was still hesitating, a new cause of
concern was added. A voice, hoarse and broken by drink, began to be
audible from the stair; and presently after, uneven, wandering, and
heavy footsteps sounded without along the passage.

"What make ye here, my merry men, among the greenwood shaws?" sang the
voice. "What make ye here? Hey! sots, what make ye here?" it added,
with a rattle of drunken laughter; and then, once more breaking into
song:

"If ye should drink the clary wine,
Fat Friar Joh