y have frighted away the damozel, and I am not sorry for it. They
have left me small heart for the part of Sir Launval."

His meditations were broken off by the sudden sight of Nicholas Alwyn,
mounted on a small palfrey, and followed by a sturdy groom on horseback,
leading a steed handsomely caparisoned. In another moment, Marmaduke had
descended, opened the door, and drawn Alwyn into the hall.

CHAPTER IX. MASTER MARMADUKE NEVILE LEAVES THE WIZARD'S HOUSE FOR THE
GREAT WORLD.

"Right glad am I," said Nicholas, "to see you so stout and hearty, for
I am the bearer of good news. Though I have been away, I have not
forgotten you; and it so chanced that I went yesterday to attend my
Lord of Warwick with some nowches [buckles and other ornaments] and
knackeries, that he takes out as gifts and exemplars of English work.
They were indifferently well wrought, specially a chevesail, of which
the--"

"Spare me the fashion of thy mechanicals, and come to the point,"
interrupted Marmaduke, impatiently.

"Pardon me, Master Nevile. I interrupt thee not when thou talkest of
bassinets and hauberks,--every cobbler to his last. But, as thou sayest,
to the point: the stout earl, while scanning my workmanship, for in much
the chevesail was mine, was pleased to speak graciously of my skill with
the bow, of which he had heard; and he then turned to thyself, of whom
my Lord Montagu had already made disparaging mention. When I told the
earl somewhat more about thy qualities and disposings, and when I spoke
of thy desire to serve him, and the letter of which thou art the bearer,
his black brows smoothed mighty graciously, and he bade me tell thee to
come to him this afternoon, and he would judge of thee with his own eyes
and ears. Wherefore I have ordered the craftsman to have all thy gauds
and gear ready at thine hostelrie, and I have engaged thee henchmen and
horses for thy fitting appearance. Be quick: time and the great wait for
no man. So take whatever thou needest for present want from thy mails,
and I will send a porter for the rest ere sunset."

"But the gittern for the damozel?"

"I have provided that for thee, as is meet." And Nicholas, stepping
back, eased the groom of a case which contained a gittern, whose
workmanship and ornaments delighted the Nevile.

"It is of my lord the young Duke of Gloucester's own musical-vendor; and
the duke, though a lad yet, is a notable judge of all appertaining to
the gentle craft. [For