correspondents in
London.

He was bound by his engagements to join the Badgers again, or he would
have gone home on his recovery; and he had shared in the terrible taking
of Rome, of which he declared that he could not speak--with a
significant look at Dennet and her children, who were devouring his
words. He had, however, stood guard over a lady and her young children
whom some savage Spaniards were about to murder, and the whole family
had overpowered him with gratitude, lodged him sumptuously in their
house, and shown themselves as grateful to him as if he had given them
all the treasure which he had abstained from seizing.

The sickness brought on by their savage excesses together with the Roman
summer had laid low many of the Badgers. When the Prince of Orange drew
off the army from the miserable city, scarce seven score of that once
gallant troop were in marching order, and Sir John Fulford himself was
dying. He sent for Giles, as less of a demon than most of the troop,
and sent a gold medal, the only fragment of spoil remaining to him, to
his daughter Perronel. To Giles himself Fulford bequeathed Abenali's
well-tested sword, and he died in the comfortable belief--so far as he
troubled himself about the matter at all--that there were special
exemptions for soldiers.

The Badgers now incorporated themselves with another broken body of
Landsknechts, and fell under the command of a better and more
conscientious captain. Giles, who had been horrified rather than
hardened by the experiences of Rome, was found trustworthy and rose in
command. The troop was sent to take charge of the Pope at Orvieto, and
thus it was that he had fallen in with the Englishmen of Gardiner's
suite, and had been able to send his letter to Ambrose. Since he had
found the means of rising out of the slough, he had made up his mind to
continue to serve till he had won some honour, and had obtained enough
to prevent his return as a hungry beggar.

His corps became known for discipline and valour. It was trusted often,
was in attendance on the Emperor, and was fairly well paid. Giles was
their "ancient" and had charge of the banner, nor could it be doubted
that he had flourished. His last adventure had been the expedition to
Tunis, when 20,000 Christian captives had been set free from the
dungeons and galleys, and so grand a treasure had been shared among the
soldiery that Giles, having completed the term of service for which he
was