but
surely it is not to its owner that you are bound?"

"And why not?" said Wolfe.

"Because," replied the other, "he is the wealthiest, the highest, and,
as report says, the haughtiest aristocrat of these parts."

"So much the better, then," said Wolfe, "can he aid us in obtaining a
quiet hearing to-morrow, undisturbed by those liveried varlets of hire,
who are termed, in sooth, Britain's defence! Much better, when we think
of all they cost us to pamper and to clothe, should they be termed
Britain's ruin: but farewell for the present; we shall meet to-night;
your lodgings--?"

"Yonder," said the other, pointing to a small inn opposite; and Wolfe,
nodding his adieu, returned to Cole, whose vivacious and restless nature
had already made him impatient of his companion's delay.

"I must take my leave of you now," said Wolfe, "which I do with a hearty
exhortation that you will change your studies, fit only for effeminate
and enslaved minds."

"And I return the exhortation," answered Cole. "Your studies seem to me
tenfold more crippling than mine: mine take all this earth's restraints
from me, and yours seem only to remind you that all earth is restraint:
mine show me whatever worlds the fondest fancy could desire; yours only
the follies and chains of this. In short, while 'my mind to me a kingdom
is,' yours seems to consider the whole universe itself nothing but
a great meeting for the purpose of abusing ministers and demanding
reform!"

Not too well pleased by this answer, and at the same time indisposed to
the delay of further reply, Wolfe contented himself with an iron
sneer of disdain, and, turning on his heel, strode rapidly away in the
direction his friend had indicated.

Meanwhile, Cole followed him with his eye till he was out of sight,
and then muttered to himself, "Never was there a fitter addition to old
Barclay's 'Ship of Fools'! I should not wonder if this man's patriotism
leads him from despising the legislature into breaking the law;
and, faith, the surest way to the gallows is less through vice than
discontent: yet I would fain hope better things for him; for, methinks,
he is neither a common declaimer nor an ordinary man."

With these words the honest Cole turned away, and, strolling towards the
Golden Fleece, soon found himself in the hospitable mansion of Mistress
and Mister Merrylack.

While the ex-king was taking his ease at his inn, Wolfe proceeded
to Mordaunt Court. The result of the meet