"I pray you do not hurry, my lord, lest you should find me waiting for
you with a shield and a sword in place of a warrant and a pen."

He heard and called out, "Fore God, this chapman thinks himself a
knight!"

Then with a mocking laugh he went.

CHAPTER VI

MARRIAGE--AND AFTER

Sir Robert and I stood facing each other speechless with rage, both of
us. At length he said in a hoarse voice:

"Your pardon, Master Hastings, for the affronts that this bastard
lordling has put upon you, an honest man. I tell you that he is a
loose-living knave, as you would agree if you knew all his story, a
cockatrice that for my sins I have nurtured in my bosom. 'Tis he that
has wasted all my substance; 'tis he that has made free of my name, so
that I fear me you are defrauded. 'Tis he that uses my house as though
it were his own, bringing into it vile women of the Court, and men that
are viler still, however high their names and gaudy their attire," and
he choked with his wrath and stopped.

"Why do you suffer these things, sir?" I asked.

"Forsooth because I must," he answered sullenly, "for he has me and mine
by the throat. This Deleroy is very powerful, Master Hastings. At a word
from him whispered in the King's ear, I, or you, or any man might find
ourselves in the Tower accused of treason, whence we should appear no
more."

Then, as though he wished to get away from the subject of Deleroy and
his hold upon him, he went on:

"I fear me that your money, or much of it, is in danger for Deleroy's
bond is worthless, and since the land is already pledged without my
knowledge, I have nowhere to turn for gold. I tell you that I am an
honest man if one who has fallen into ill company, and this wickedness
cuts me deep, for I know not how you will be repaid."

Now a thought came to me, and as was my bold fashion in all business, I
acted on it instantly.

"Sir Robert Aleys," I said, "should it be pleasing to you and another,
I can see a way in which this debt may be cancelled without shame to you
and yet to my profit."

"Then in God's name speak it! For I see none."

"Sir, in bygone time, as it chanced I was able yonder at Hastings to do
some service to your daughter and in that hour she took my heart."

He started but motioned to me to continue.

"Sir, I love her truly and desire more than anything to make her my
wife. I know she is far above me in station, still although but a
merchant, I am of good descent as I ca