y of meeting
him and his companions at some distance from the city, and enjoy the
pleasure of riding back with them. We rode on for some distance, till
at length we began to hope that we might soon fall in with the expected
travellers. Every cloud of dust which appeared rising ahead of us gave
us hopes that they were coming. As we drew nearer, and figures appeared
through the cloud of dust, my heart beat quicker. A few minutes more
showed us a party of travelling merchants, with their packs on led
horses.

"That must be them!" exclaimed A'Dale, as another cloud rose in front of
us.

We pushed on eagerly. They were a band of a dozen or more horsemen.
The serviceable swords, with the hilts ready to their hands, which they
wore at their sides, the pistols in their belts, and the arquebuses
slung across their saddles, gave them a somewhat suspicious appearance.
They eyed us narrowly, but we put on a bold and independent look. It
struck me that the traders we had passed a short time before would not
have been well pleased to have fallen in with them, nor would, I
suspect, Sir Thomas Gresham and his companions. Thus we were doomed
several times to disappointment. At length we rode on for some distance
without meeting any one. The day was advancing, and we began to fear
that Sir Thomas had for some reason stopped on the way.

"Well, then, all we have to do is to turn our horses and ride back
again," said A'Dale.

As he spoke, however, I thought I saw another light cloud of dust. I
pointed it out to him.

"We will go on for ten minutes more, and then, if Sir Thomas does not
appear, we will do as you propose," I said.

As we rode on, I more than once stood up in my stirrups, eagerly looking
forward, for I felt convinced that another party of travellers were
approaching. I was not mistaken. The cloud of dust rose higher and
higher above the horizon, and beneath it, at length, horses and riders
were seen. We pushed on with more confidence. As we advanced, we could
distinguish a tall cavalier on a stout horse, and a lady riding a
palfrey by his side. About that there was no doubt. We felt sure it
must be Sir Thomas and his expected female companion. I thought I could
distinguish another female behind the first, and several other horsemen
and baggage animals. All doubts were set at rest directly afterwards,
as we distinguished the well-known features of our patron; but with
regard to the lady we were not so