-philosopher's acceptance of the lady's
ring. He refused it flatly, and insisted on Gerard going back to the
"Tete d'Or" at once, ring and all, like a man, and not letting a poor
girl hold out her arms to him in vain.

"Her hands, you mean."

"Her hand, with the 'Tete d'Or' in it."

Failing in this, he was for putting the ring on his friend's finger.
Gerard declined. "I wear a ring already."

"What, that sorry gimcrack? why, 'tis pewter, or tin at best: and this
virgin gold, forbye the jewel."

"Ay, but 'twas Margaret gave me this one; and I value it above rubies.
I'll neither part with it nor give it a rival," and he kissed the base
metal, and bade it fear nought.

"I see the owl hath sent her ring to a goose," said Denys sorrowfully.
However, he prevailed on Gerard to fasten it inside his bonnet. To this,
indeed, the lad consented very readily. For sovereign qualities were
universally ascribed to certain jewels; and the amethyst ranked high
among these precious talismans.

When this was disposed of, Gerard earnestly requested his friend to let
the matter drop, since speaking of the other sex to him made him pine
so for Margaret, and almost unmanned him with the thought that each step
was taking him farther from her. "I am no general lover, Denys. There is
room in my heart for one sweetheart, and for one friend. I am far from
my dear mistress; and my friend, a few leagues more, and I must lose him
too. Oh, let me drink thy friendship pure while I may, and not dilute
with any of these stupid females."

"And shalt, honey-pot, and shalt," said Denys kindly'. "But as to
my leaving thee at Remiremont, reckon thou not on that! For" (three
consecutive oaths) "if I do. Nay, I shall propose to thee to stay
forty-eight hours there, while I kiss my mother and sisters, and the
females generally, and on go you and I together to the sea."

"Denys! Denys!"

"Denys nor me! 'Tis settled. Gainsay me not! or I'll go with thee
to Rome. Why not? his Holiness the Pope hath ever some little merry
pleasant war toward, and a Burgundian soldier is still welcome in his
ranks."

On this Gerard opened his heart. "Denys, ere I fell in with thee, I used
often to halt on the road, unable to go farther: my puny heart so pulled
me back: and then, after a short prayer to the saints for aid, would I
rise and drag my most unwilling body onward. But since I joined company
with thee, great is my courage. I have found the saying of the
ancient