f good birth, with a stiff
little ruff round his neck, sat in a sort of office inclosed by panels
at the end of the hall. He made an entry of Tibble's account in a big
book, and sent a message to the cofferer to bring the amount. Then
Tibble again put his question on behalf of the two young foresters, and
the comptroller shook his head. He did not know the name. "Was the
gentleman," (he chose that word as he looked at the boys), "layman or
clerk?"

"Layman, certainly," said Ambrose, somewhat dismayed to find how little,
on interrogation, he really knew.

"Was he a yeoman of the guard, or in attendance on one of my lord's
nobles in waiting?"

"We thought he had been a yeoman," said Ambrose.

"See," said the comptroller, stimulated by a fee administered by Tibble,
"'tis just dinner-time, and I must go to attend on my Lord Archbishop;
but do you, Tibble, sit down with these striplings to dinner, and then I
will cast my eye over the books, and see if I can find any such name.
What, hast not time? None ever quits my lord's without breaking his
fast."

Tibble had no doubt that his master would be willing that he should give
up his time for this purpose, so he accepted the invitation. The tables
were by this time nearly covered, but all stood waiting, for there
flowed in from the great doorway of the hall a gorgeous train--first, a
man bearing the double archiepiscopal cross of York, fashioned in
silver, and thick with gems--then, with lofty mitre enriched with pearls
and jewels, and with flowing violet lace-covered robes came the sturdy
square-faced ruddy prelate, who was then the chief influence in England,
and after him two glittering ranks of priests in square caps and richly
embroidered copes, all in accordant colours. They were returning, as a
yeoman told Tibble, from some great ecclesiastical ceremony, and dinner
would be served instantly.

"That for which Ralf Bowyer lives!" said a voice close by. "He would
fain that the dial's hands were Marie bones, the face blancmange,
wherein the figures should be grapes of Corinth!"

Stephen looked round and saw a man close beside him in what he knew at
once to be the garb of a jester. A tall scarlet velvet cap, with three
peaks, bound with gold braid, and each surmounted with a little gilded
bell, crowned his head, a small crimson ridge to indicate the cock's
comb running along the front. His jerkin and hose were of motley, the
left arm and right leg being blue