assed
on to the spot where the two jesters were standing.

"What dost thou here, knave?" he said to Will Sommers.

"I might rather ask that question of your majesty," replied Will; "and I
would do so but that I require not to be told."

"I have come to see what passeth in my household," replied the king,
throwing himself into the chair lately occupied by the chief cook. "Ah,
Hob and Nob, my merry rascals," he cried, patting the turnspits, who ran
towards him and thrust their noses against his hand, "ye are as gamesome
and loving as ever, I see. Give me a manchet for them, Master Cook,
and let not the proceedings in the kitchen be stayed for my presence. I
would not have my supper delayed, or the roasts spoiled, for any false
ceremony. And now, Will, what hast thou to say that thou lookest so hard
at me?"

"I have a heavy charge to bring against this knave, an' please your
majesty," replied Will Sommers, pointing to Patch.

"What! hath he retorted upon thee too sharply?" replied the king,
laughing. "If so, challenge him to the combat, and settle the grievance
with thy lathen dagger. But refer not the matter to me. I am no judge in
fools' quarrels."

"Your own excepted," muttered Will. "This is not a quarrel that can be
so adjusted," he added aloud. "I charge this rascal Patch with speaking
disrespectfully of your highness in the hearing of the whole kitchen.
And I also charge his master the cardinal with having secreted in his
cellars at Hampton a vast amount of treasure, obtained by extortion,
privy dealings with foreign powers, and other iniquitous practices, and
which ought of right to find its way to your royal exchequer."

"'And which shall find its way thither, if thou dost not avouch a
fable," replied the king.

"Your majesty shall judge," rejoined Will. And he repeated the story
which he had just before related.

"Can this be true?" exclaimed Henry at its close.

"It is false, your highness, every word of it," cried Patch, throwing
himself at the king's feet, "except so far as relates to our visits to
the cellar, where, I shame to speak it, we drank so much that our senses
clean forsook us. As to my indiscreet speech touching your majesty,
neither disrespect nor disloyalty were intended by it. I was goaded to
the rejoinder by the sharp sting of this hornet."

"The matter of the treasure shall be inquired into without delay," said
Henry. "As to the quarrel, it shall be settled thus. Get both of you
u